Addendum 11 To Executive Order 01-20
Addendum 11 To Executive Order 01-20
Addendum 11 To Executive Order 01-20
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020 and March 11, 2020, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH)
detected the first two cases of COVID-19 in Vermont and a month and a half later Vermont has
experienced over 800 cases and over 40 related deaths; and
WHEREAS, on Friday, March 13, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 01-20, Declaration
of State of Emergency in Response to COVID-19 and National Guard Call-Out (“Executive
Order”), declaring a state of emergency for the State of Vermont in response to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Governor, in consultation with VDH and the Vermont Agency of Human
Services, has initiated aggressive and sustained efforts to protect property and public health, and
to ensure public safety in this public health emergency including issuing Addenda to the Executive
Order to limit in-person contact, such as limiting the size of gatherings, closure of schools and the
institution of remote learning through the end of the school year, suspending the operation of close
contact businesses, requiring telecommuting and work from home, requiring Vermonters to stay
home and stay safe with exceptions for essential purposes and suspending the operation of
businesses which are not deemed critical; and
WHEREAS, modeling studies done for the State clearly show that, but for the mitigation measures
taken to date, the number of COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 related deaths in the State and the
region would be having a much more devastating effect on Vermonters and would be threatening
to overwhelm the capacity of the Vermont health care system; and
WHEREAS, the Governor has determined to begin a cautious, incremental and evidence-based
approach to restarting Vermont’s economy; and
WHEREAS, as we move forward, businesses, governments and employees must understand that
how they work is essential to resuming and maintaining business operations, to stay safe and
save lives.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Philip B. Scott, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of
Vermont by the Constitution of the State of Vermont, the emergency powers set forth in 20 V.S.A.
§§ 8, 9 and 11 and other laws hereby order as follows:
1. Health and Safety Requirements. The State shall continue a phased approach to reopen the
economy, balancing the need to restore and strengthen our overall social and economic
wellbeing with the prevention of a resurgence of COVID-19 that would undermine or lose
the important public health outcomes achieved to date. In order to achieve this balance, all
businesses and non-profit and governmental entities, including employees and contractors
of governmental entities, which are operating or will be operating during the declared State
of Emergency, shall implement the following physical distancing, health and sanitation
measures in accordance with Vermont Department of Health, CDC and Agency of
Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) guidelines:
a. Employees shall not report to, or be allowed to remain at, work or job site if sick or
symptomatic (with fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath).
b. Employees must observe strict social distancing of six feet while on the job.
c. Employees must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth when in the
presence of others. In the case of retail cashiers, a translucent shield or “sneeze
guard” is acceptable in lieu of a mask.
d. Employees must have easy and frequent access to soap and water or hand sanitizer
during duration of work, and handwashing or hand sanitization should be required
before entering, and leaving, job sites. All common spaces and equipment,
including bathrooms, frequently touched surfaces and doors, tools and equipment,
and vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected at the beginning, middle and end of
each shift and prior to transfer from one person to another.
e. No more than two (2) people shall occupy one vehicle when conducting work.
f. To the extent feasible, prior to the commencement of each work shift, pre-
screening, including temperature checks and survey shall be required to verify each
employee has no symptoms of respiratory illness (fever, cough, and/or shortness of
breath).
g. Signs must be posted at all entrances clearly indicating that no one may enter if they
have symptoms of respiratory illness.
h. No congregation of employees shall be permitted on site.
i. No workers who have knowledge of contact with a worker who is diagnosed with
COVID-19 shall be permitted on site and shall quarantine for 14 days.
j. Indoor workspaces where more than two (2) employees are working must have
good air circulation.
k. All operations shall designate a health officer on-site at every shift responsible for
ensuring compliance with Addendum 10 and this Addendum 11 to the Executive
Order and applicable ACCD Guidance. This person shall have the authority to stop
or modify activities to ensure work conforms with the mandatory health and safety
requirements.
l. All employees, including those already working (except healthcare workers, first
responders, and others already trained in infection control, personal
protection/universal precautions), must complete, and employers must document, a
mandatory training on health and safety requirements as provided by VOSHA, or
another training program that meets or exceeds the VOSHA-provided standard.
2. Training Requirements. All employers shall provide training and a written copy of
standard operating procedures to be developed by the Vermont Occupational Safety and
Health Agency (VOSHA), in consultation with VDH, on, at a minimum:
a. The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and an explanation of how the disease is
spread;
b. Information on appropriate social distancing and personal hygiene practices,
including those set forth in this Addendum 11 to the Executive Order and applicable
ACCD Guidance; and
c. The types, proper use, limitations, location, handling, decontamination, removal,
and disposal of any PPE being used.
Employers may adopt another training program that meets or exceeds the VOSHA-
provided standard, or additional policies and procedures that are applicable to the
employment environment and employees’ duties, which shall not be less restrictive than
those developed by VOSHA.
All businesses and non-profit and government entities in operation must complete and
document mandatory health and safety training by May 4, 2020.
3. Customer and General Public Mask Use. Customers and the public in general, are
encouraged to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth any time they are interacting
with others from outside their households.
4. Phased Restart. Preventing outbreaks and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is the only
way to avoid future business and social disruption. The success of this phased restart will
depend in large part on the ability of employers and employees to adhere to the public
health, safety, and social distancing measures essential to limiting the spread of illness.
Subject to compliance by all affected businesses and non-profit and government entities
with the health and safety requirements set forth above and ACCD guidance developed in
consultation with VDH and the Department of Public Safety/Division of Emergency
Management, Phase 2 of this effort, effective April 27, 2020, will allow the following:
Outdoor retail operations shall take steps to schedule or stage customer visits, such
as waiting in cars until ready, to ensure no congregation.
e. Libraries may allow for curbside pickup for lending in accordance with guidance
issued by the Department of Libraries.
5. Farmers Markets. Subject to compliance with the health and safety requirements set forth
above and ACCD guidance developed in consultation with VDH and the Department of
Public Safety/Division of Emergency Management, effective May 1, 2020, farmers
markets may open using limited in-person operations to ensure consumer access to quality,
healthy food; provided, however:
a. Farmer’s markets must adhere to all municipal ordinances and regulatory and
permitting requirements prior to opening.
b. Farmer’s markets must significantly alter their business practices to eliminate
crowds and reduce contact between vendors and customers, including a transition
away from shopping and social events to primarily a food distribution system.
c. Farmers markets shall use a “pre-order, local food pick-up” model to the extent
possible and comply with any additional guidance issued by the Agency of
Agriculture and Food Markets (AAFM).
6. Education and Compliance. VOSHA, VDH inspectors and AAFM inspectors shall, in the
ordinary course of the performance of their duties, ensure businesses and non-profit and
governmental entities have the information necessary to comply with the health and safety
requirements of this Addendum 11 to the Executive Order.
7. Businesses and non-profit and government entities deemed critical in accordance with
Addendum 6 to the Executive Order and ACCD Sector Guidance (Stay Home/Stay Safe),
may continue to operate under pre-existing guidance and shall operate in accordance with
mandatory health and safety and training requirements set forth above.
8. In accordance with Addendum 5 to the Executive Order (Order to Work From Home for
all Businesses and Non-Profits) and Stay Home Stay Safe, all businesses, non-profit
entities and government entities shall continue procedures to support work from home and
telecommuting for all workers to the extent possible.
9. All businesses, not-for-profit entities and government entities are encouraged to continue
business strategies, procedures and practices to maximize use of on-line presence,
telephone and web-based service delivery and phone or online orders for term curb-side
pick-up and delivery.
This Addendum 11 shall take effect upon signing and, except as modified in this Addendum 11,
the Executive Order and all Addenda thereto and Directives issued thereunder, shall continue in
full force and effect until midnight on May 15, 2020, at which time the Governor, in consultation
with the Vermont Department of Health and the Department of Public Safety/Division of
Emergency Management shall assess the emergency and determine whether to amend or extend
this Addendum.
By the Governor: ________________________________
Philip B. Scott
Governor
_____________________________________
Brittney L. Wilson
Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs