Vermont Records Zero New COVID-19 Cases for First Time in Weeks

A couple wearing masks to protect against COVID-19 walk in a park in Montreal on April 25, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes)

Vermont authorities recorded zero new CCP virus cases in the past 24 hours for the first time in more than a month.

The Vermont Department of Health website, which showed the same number of cases on Tuesday and Wednesday, also noted there were no deaths from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged in China last year.

Gov. Phil Scott told reporters that it was “great news” but said that “one day doesn’t create a trend, and we have to look at the trend lines to see where we’re going.”

March 13 was the last time the state reported no cases, according to VTDigger.

Vermont has reported 862 CCP virus cases and 47 deaths, with more than 15,400 people tested for the virus, according to the health department’s website.

Eleven people are currently hospitalized for the virus, and 15 people were hospitalized under investigation, while 18 are being monitored.

Health Commissioner Mark Levine said the state is expanding testing to prisons, healthcare workers, and long-term care facilities.

“Expanding testing to this essential workforce will not only ensure that we keep our health care heroes safe, healthy and ready to respond as they’re needed,” Levine said, referring to healthcare worker testing.

Earlier in April, big box stores like Target, Costco, and Walmart were told to stop in-person sales of nonessential items, becoming the first state to do so.

“Large ‘big box’ retailers generate significant shopping traffic by virtue of their size and the variety of goods offered in a single location,” said Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle in a statement at the time. “This volume of shopping traffic significantly increases the risk of further spread of this dangerous virus to Vermonters and the viability of Vermont’s health care system.”