COVID-19

We are emerging from two and a half years of the most disruptive pandemic of the last century.  And now, despite Covid’s interruptions, many of us are back working, traveling, at school, and enjoying a more public life – almost back to ‘normal’.  Sadly, this is not the case for all Vermonters.  A number of people are still suffering from ‘long Covid’, can’t secure child care for their young children, or work in a business sector which has been slow to recover because of workforce shortages or concerns about close proximity (theater/movies etc).  Over 20,000 Vermonters have left the workforce putting enormous pressure on most businesses.

However, people are amazingly creative and resilient.  The Covid-19 pandemic forced us to pivot to adopting remote life – virtual work, education, entertainment and health care – quickly and effectively.  Our legislative work went virtual for a year and a half.  We kept things going, but at a significant cost in dollars, isolation, mental health and missed opportunities.  

Thanks to vaccines, medical treatments, and the natural course of widespread infection, we are at a new stage in the pandemic.  While it remains a dangerous illness, particularly for those with conditions or circumstances that put them at added risk, our base level of immunity has risen, and Covid 19 is no longer as dominant in many of our lives.  We are in a time of transition, and, provided the infection rate stays relatively low, I believe we should continue the process opening up our economy, our society, and our lives.  At the same time, we must respect the concerns of those who need to be careful.  We are not at a “one size fits all” moment yet; being tolerant and accommodating the choices of others – particularly those at greatest risk – is something we owe each other.