 Good morning everyone. 464 days ago on March 7th, I was at a Norwich hockey game when I learned we had our first case of COVID-19 in Vermont. I got up from my seat and headed into the office ready to take on this challenge. We had spent weeks leading up to that moment learning everything we could about this new virus and preparing for what seemed to be the inevitable. A day later, we stood at the emergency operations center to announce that the global pandemic had reached our doorstep. Since then, we've had 145 briefings, many with difficult news and hard choices, others offering reason for hope and confidence in brighter days ahead, and always telling you what we knew, what we didn't know, what actions we were taking, and why. There's no doubt each of us, every single Vermonter, has been through a lot over the last 15 months. Missing time with family and friends, adapting to restrictions, putting off weddings, birthday parties, holidays, and travel, working and learning from home, or worse, losing loved ones, businesses, or jobs. For 15 months, our daily lives have been impacted by a global, once in a century crisis that required us to do things we never thought we'd have to do. Never did I think I'd be the governor ordering businesses to close, sending kids home from school, or telling people to stay home, to stay safe. I think back to the early days, calling the vice president because we didn't think we had enough test kits to get us through the week. Chasing a lead from Congressman Welch and cold calling someone, I'd never met at 10 o'clock on a Friday night in hopes of getting enough PPE for our healthcare workers. There was also a time when, based on what we'd seen in other states, we thought we were going to need refrigerated trailers, because hospital morgues might not be able to handle what was coming. Although we faced heartbreaking losses, we're fortunate these types of measures weren't needed, and it was only because of the unity of the people of Vermont, whose commitment to neighbors and community never wavered. At the beginning, I told you we would face, find, and fight this virus together. That's exactly what Vermonters have done and continue to do. And you've done it better than any other place in the country. I also believe that we've done it as well as, or better than, any other place in the world. Together, we built a nation-leading response that kept people safe. Vermont has had among the highest testing and lowest hospitalizations in the country. We've had the fewest deaths and cases per capita in the continental U.S. And keep in mind, this is even after we ended stay home, stay safe, and restarted our economy to put people back to work and kids back in school. Alongside the legislature, and with the strong support of the congressional delegation, we also work to protect those who were hit hardest, providing financial help for individuals, small businesses, laid-off workers, and so many more. We've also built a vaccination program that Vermonters have made the very best there is, without offering financial incentives, other than the occasional maple creamy. Which brings me to why we're here this morning. Today, I'm very proud to announce that Vermont has now become the first state in the nation to vaccinate 80% of its 12 and over population. In a fair comparison to President Biden's goal of 70% of Americans over the age of 18 by July 4th, Vermont has vaccinated 81.8% of 18 plus. We said from the very start, in the face of criticism, that our vaccine strategy would prove to be the most effective in the nation. That in order to protect the most vulnerable, a simple to understand and easy to implement age banding strategy would deliver the best results. Again, not only did we lead the United States, but Vermont is now a global leader in vaccinations to defeat COVID-19. Our state has shown the world what's possible when you have a group of people with the right attitude following the data and trusting medical science. Now, here's the news many have been waiting to hear and I've been waiting to deliver for 15 months. Now that we hit 80%, as promised, effective immediately, I'm lifting all remaining state pandemic restrictions and state of emergency will formally end at midnight June 15th tomorrow. And here's why, because it's safe to do so and it's safe because for monitors have done their part to keep the virus from spreading and stepping up to get vaccinated. In fact, no state in the nation is in a better position to do this than we are. So to be clear, here's what this change means and it's really very simple. There are no longer any state COVID-19 restrictions, none. So unless there's a federal requirement in place, like for public transportation or long-term care facilities, employers, municipalities and individuals can operate under the same conditions as before the pandemic. I know most for monitors have been anxiously awaiting this moment, but I also know there are some who might feel uncomfortable, who have their own legitimate reasons to remain cautious. And as I've said, that's natural and it's okay. I hope all Vermonters show compassion and respect for one another, including businesses choosing to keep some requirements in place while they wait for all their employees to do the right thing and get vaccinated. But I want everyone to understand we're able to remove restrictions because there's no longer needed to prevent the surge in COVID hospitalizations or deaths we've been concerned about. And like every decision throughout this pandemic, it was made with support of our top public health experts, Dr. Levine and Dr. Kelso. It's important to note that even as we celebrate this milestone, our work isn't done. We'll continue to vaccinate as many Vermonters as we can because every shot given today, tomorrow and in the weeks to come is just as important as the ones we administered yesterday. And when vaccines are approved for younger Vermonters in the months ahead, we'll be ready. Vermont's success has been a team effort across the state. Each one of us knows people who have gone above and beyond. This list is long, so I'm reluctant to share individual thanks for fear of missing too many. But I do want to mention some, starting with the incredible work of our frontline teams, from contact tracers to the EPI team, state emergency operations center staff, everyone on our HOC-SEOC crew, and all those who had to turn their full-time attention to the response. Over the past 15 months, I've been briefed 236 times by the joint SEOC and Health Operations Center, which includes hundreds of people from across the state. The Vermont National Guard has also been there for us, whether it's vaccinations, food distribution, building and maintaining medical surge sites, or anything we've asked of them. They've been there ready, willing, and able. And on the vaccine front, the Guard was joined by so many partners across the state, including EMS crews, hospitals and other providers, pharmacies, schools, businesses, community groups, and more. I also want to thank our legislature and the congressional delegation for their support. Without Senator Leahy, Senator Sanders, and Congressman Welch, we wouldn't have had the resources we needed and will need for the recovery to come. Here in the room today behind me, we have some of the members of my COVID-19 leadership response team. None of our success would have been possible without them. From the very beginning, this has been all hands on deck, and we've broken down silos and gotten creative. For example, when I appointed Mike Pichek as Commissioner of Financial Regulation back in 2017, I don't think he was expecting to develop modeling for a global pandemic. But he and his team at DFR have done remarkable work. And then there's our restart teams, Secretary Curley, Mr. Shirling, Secretary Moore, Secretary French, and all the volunteer business, community, and education partners who help guide our reopening efforts. Our seasoned leaders at EHS, Secretary Smith, Deputy Secretary Samuelson, and their entire team, and Secretary Young at the Agency of Administration. But the list goes on and on. From digital services to V-trans and public service to labor and ag, BGS, tax, and libraries, every single agency and department has had a role to play. The staff in my office have also quietly but effectively helped to keep people informed and fielded all their requests for help. They've been essential to keeping all this together and our team focused and accountable, as well as my cabinet and their teams who kept state government fully operational, even while they took on the additional responsibilities of this pandemic. And then of course, there's Dr. Levine and our state epidemiologists, Dr. Kelso, and their teams whose advice and guidance were relied on from the very start, whose thoughtfulness, hard work, and dedication are like none I've ever seen. I know we don't intentionally take people for granted, but I have to say, for monitors are fortunate to have all these public servants leading this response. And as Governor, I'm very blessed to have a team with so much character, commitment, competence, and chemistry. Fate can have a funny way of putting the right people in the right place at the right time, and I think that's exactly what happened here. I also want to thank you, the members of the press, the broadcasters who carry these briefings live, all the journalists from across the state who've called in. You've kept Vermonters informed and you held our feet to the fire. We don't always love your questions, but we're not supposed to. Your focus on transparency and accountability have made our response better, and Vermonters are better for it. At the end of the day, the people who deserve the credit most are everyday Vermonters, those who wake up each morning wanting to do the right thing. Vermonters met this difficult moment from the very start. You cared for one another. You followed the science, and you put others first. You stuck together, even while you had to be physically separated. We've been united in our commitment, our sense of duty, in our care and respect for one another. The ingenuity, creativity, and dedication of all Vermonters to their friends and families, to their neighbors, and to their communities has been incredible, and we should all be very proud. I know I am. Through it all, we've shown the nation and much of the world how to respond when there's no playbook, and how to do it with civility and respect. But this is no surprise to me, and should be no surprise to anyone who knows anything about what it means to be a Vermonter. On the first day of the battle in Gettysburg, General Sedgwick knew enough about our character and courage to send the order. I put the Vermonters ahead. 157 years later, we've shown when the nation is in need of leadership and hope, when America needs to find its path forward to solve problems and help people, when in dark times our country needs a state to light the way, Vermonters will always step forward and lead the charge. I thank all of you for what you've done over the last year and a half, and the work we'll do together to recover stronger than ever before, and we still have a lot of work to do. So let's keep moving Vermont forward. With that, I'll turn it over to a familiar face. Thank you, Governor. I'll keep my remarks fairly brief this morning. As we mark this significant milestone today, allow me to start off by saying thank you, sincerely. While this global pandemic is not over, and there are many in the U.S. and around the world still at risk of harm that this virus can cause, we can all take pride in what this milestone means. Vermont stands once again among the healthiest of states in America. This is a statewide achievement and says much about the individual and policy commitment Vermont has to public health. Fortunately for me, the Governor took the almost impossible task of trying to thank everyone that could possibly be thanked for getting us to where we are today. This allows me the luxury of focusing in on just a few thank yous. I'd like to start by singling out our public health staff for recognition, about three-quarters of whom have been deployed to COVID-19 work for many months now. And I extend my personal gratitude as well to those at the department who are not directly part of the response. You have been and continue to be consummate professionals, critical to making sure our other essential public health functions were still going strong. I've seen nothing short of complete dedication by every member of the health department. No matter what their role, these public servants approached each challenge with thoughtfulness, care, compassion, and expertise. You are my public health heroes, along with my comrade throughout this entire enterprise, Dr. Kelsel. I want to also thank our many partners, all of whom continue to be instrumental in this very successful vaccination effort. The Governor has already named many, but I especially want to give a shout out to the organizations that have helped us break down barriers to getting vaccinated, whether it be language, cultural, accessibility, transportation, historical mistrust, and so much more. But most of all, I want to thank Vermonters. We have asked so much of you throughout this pandemic, from staying home to following many restrictions. We've asked you to learn about how to prevent the spread of a virus new to humanity to assess risks and to protect yourselves. And ultimately, we asked you to trust in a new vaccine based on data and science, and you again rose to that challenge. Not to mention the trust you placed in us to build and implement Vermont's data driven and scientifically credible approach. That trust continues to drive me and all of us in our work to protect and promote the health of all Vermonters. It is truly the public and public health that matters. We could not have done any of this alone. Together, we've now attained a high level of protection in Vermont, and that is no small feat. Our high vaccination rates will help keep coronavirus activity at historically low levels. This means fewer chances for COVID to spread between people and throughout our communities. Fewer, if any, hospitalizations and importantly prevent any more loss of life from the virus. It also means less opportunity for mutations and more virulent strains from developing. This protection is what is allowing us to lift restrictions today. That is public health at work. But of course, it is my job to tell you that the work is far from over. We will continue getting as many Vermonters vaccinated as possible to keep this protection as strong as we can. We will continue to keep watching our data closely and act accordingly. We will still offer plenty of opportunities to get vaccinated and guidance for people who are not yet vaccinated to protect themselves and those around them. There is still a lot at stake for many Vermonters, especially those who cannot be vaccinated. This is a responsibility we will all continue to share to protect them from this virus, from symptoms that can last for months, or the more chronic long COVID syndrome, or the rare inflammatory syndrome in children. For those who can't get vaccinated, we will do our best to keep you healthy. And to anyone who has chosen to not get vaccinated, I ask you once again to reconsider for your health and those you love. Once federal officials determine it's safe for use, possibly as soon as this fall, we will prepare for the approval of the vaccine to be used in younger children. I'm already collaborating with my pediatric colleagues so that we will be ready to get parents and caregivers the information they need and to deliver the vaccine in as many appropriate settings as possible and with the supports you need. This pandemic has been the strongest reminder in nearly a century of the power vaccines have in controlling infectious diseases. This is why we call them vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccines save lives. They keep us healthy and they keep our communities healthy. So please remember, public health is still here and we still need you, my fellow Vermonters, to keep COVID-19 vaccination a top priority. Thank you again for all of your sacrifices and all of you have done and will continue to do. Now I'll open up to your questions. And we will start in the room with Calvin Cutler just to remind folks we have a hard stop so we're going to get to as many questions as possible. We ask that people please limit to one. I know there were some audio problems for some of the phones so we're going the old fashion way. I've got my cell phone on top of the table. I speak your phone right in front so we should be able to hear you. I will start with Calvin Cutler. Thank you Governor. So as you mentioned the state of emergency is going to expire tomorrow but we're told that you're going to likely sign a new executive order that will maintain some of this FEMA funding. I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about what that will look like and what do we do? We'll talk about this in greater detail tomorrow but we're going to I'm going to issue an executive order. You know the state of emergency will be over. Executive order to fill the gaps you know some of the feeding programs and so forth that we have in place that we want to continue. There's also a gap with the to-go drinks of two weeks so we have to make sure that we we cover that. So there's some you know few details that we just need to do with the executive order. Kevin Mays, local 22, local 44. Yeah it's Governor Scott. I believe it was during the press conference in March 2020 when you announced the state of emergency you were kind of drawing some parallels to the 1918 Spanish flu. How Vermont initially responded to that. My question is looking a hundred years into the future. What advice would you give the Governor of Vermont at that time who is suddenly dealing with a global pandemic? Yeah the advice I would give is trust the science, trust the data, trust your people, put a good team together and always tell the truth even when it's not good news. Just always tell the truth so that it builds that trust that you need in order to be successful and I think that that's what we've done. This team has done with their teams is to build the trust of Vermonters for the most part and so that they've done the right thing as a result. So I would just say again trust the science the data and trust the experts. Zuri Hoffman, NBC 5. Hi Governor for everyday Vermonters what is the most significant change that will happen for them once the state of emergency expires strong? Really the most significant change is just going back to normal. Just think back 16 months ago pre-pandemic and all the things you could do and all the things you didn't have to worry about and that's what we're going back to. Obviously this takes self-responsibility and there will be some people as I mentioned my remarks that might not be comfortable on taking off their masks. There may be some businesses that want to continue and we just have to be tolerant and we have to be use our compassion and accept that everyone is at a different stage and so but it means means really going back to normal. Wilson Ring, the Associated Press. Hi, it's nice to be here first. Good to see you. How long? The idea of vaccine passports I know there's a lot of different names on that. Are you going to be okay if businesses and say sporting events and so on want to require vaccinations from people who go in? I think everyone all the businesses have to make their own decisions on what they do but we have proven here in Vermont and when we you know 80 percent of those eligible receiving vaccinations is a huge milestone. Again I know I know there are a couple of states Hawaii being won in Massachusetts might be in the 70s but we may be one of the only states that accomplishes this and we're not done. You know we're going to keep moving forward. You'll find out tomorrow we'll have other vaccination plans open for this weekend. Vaccination sites so that we can continue to vaccinate more Vermonters because every as I said before every Vermonter we we vaccinate in the future just protects us more and and what we we know maybe just they like a common flu or something that is not going away at this point. So if somebody like an organization or something wants to require proof of vaccination for entry are you okay with that? Yeah I mean we don't I would recommend that you can go back to what you had before pre-pandemic but but this is something that the businesses and enterprises have to decide for themselves. So I'm okay with it. Greg Lamero the county courier. When you said the 80% goal you said that you would lift the restrictions that day that we we hit the 80% we hit it yesterday we announced the press conference late last night. You've made the announcement today that if I understand it correctly this is going to take effect midnight tomorrow night. Can you just clarify yeah you know maybe there's a logistic issue as to why it wouldn't take effect literally immediately? Yeah a couple of things Greg this is immediate in terms of the restrictions are all lifted right now that's I've already signed that order and and and task the secretary of the agency of the community community development to to lifting all the restrictions so that's that's over in terms of the the state of emergency expires tomorrow night it's just easier just to let it expire. If I guess I could have called the press conference last night at 11 o'clock but I'm not sure that anyone would have heard it and I'm not sure that any of you would have wanted to go but I could have done it last night but here's a couple of things we went in every day we didn't know when it was going to happen it wasn't a question of if it was going to happen it was a question of which day so Friday when we received the results I was thinking it could be Saturday but we got the results on Friday and there was a little glitch in the CDC data and they needed some more time to to figure it out but they had us only vaccinating 20 I think it was 28 people on Friday which we knew wasn't correct because we had one site alone we had that amount so we knew that it was more than that and they took some time to rectify that during the next day and then we received the last or Saturday night received it updated numbers and we were within 300 and something at that point so last night you know being the cautious person I am you know trust and verify so we received the information and I just wanted to be absolutely sure that we had hit the 80 percent so we just took the extra few hours and again I know I said that we would lift it that day but it was I really didn't receive any notice of this until about nine o'clock last night so we put out the press media briefing timeline for the next day today right now and I just thought it was the prudent thing to do just to make sure absolutely sure that we had the correct information. Peter Herschfeldt, VPR. Peter Herschfeldt, VPR. I will look forward to the details about the concept of the border you'll be diving tomorrow but there's enormous anxiety right now in the Department of Services Organization's public safety officials about motel housing and the GA crack period of changing can you tell us right now whether or not you're going to postpone the institution of the new eligibility criteria or will folks who don't need that criteria have to be out on duty? Unfortunately Peter because of our high tech technology here I didn't get all that could you repeat the question and maybe just a little bit louder? Just postpone the change in eligibility criteria for emergency housing for the long-term stays in motels or if folks who don't need the new criteria will have to be out on June 30th as has been the case up until now. Yeah there's some we are you know some of this the executive order that I'll be signing tomorrow and we'll go into more detail tomorrow and have updates for you but it's preventing any cliffs from happening so just rest assured nothing is going to happen and normally as of tomorrow night we will we will have a gradual slope away from the state of emergency for those who are impacted by in terms of housing and and feeding programs so we'll have more details tomorrow. Tim McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine and just a reminder to folks please speak as loudly as you possibly can. Well congratulations to you and the administration on all this I think we all appreciate and across the state and I'm just asked. Yeah I'd equate it to the no shirts no shoes no service it's the same thing so yes sorry about that Tim I'll speak louder so I'd equate it in the same way that we do when there's a sign posted on the business that says no shirts no shoes no service so yes they'll be able to implement their own guidelines. Lisa Loomis the value reporter Lisa Loomis all right we'll move to Mike Donahue the Islander. Critical to the economy I mean now that you've hit the 80 percent is there anything you and the other 12 governors of order with states of border Canada and do to get the border reopened and anything new on currently going to be. Yeah as you know Mike we we did we did send the letter to the White House we haven't received a response at this point in time obviously they probably want to do it federally but we wanted to offer any excess vaccine amounts that we have inventory and and have coming to us for our friends to the north but but there is some good news and tomorrow you'll see in the modeling update Commissioner Peachek will go over this but but Canada has done a tremendous job over the last month and really is leading the the world I think in the number of first doses of vaccines so I have a feeling obviously we've heard some good news from the Prime Minister but I have a feeling that they will be opening up the border fairly soon but we have to remember I mean I I think that they are cautious as well and it's not just about Vermont I mean they would trust if they could just let Vermonters over or those from New Hampshire or Massachusetts or any of the northeast states but there are other states in in the country that haven't accomplished what we have and so once you open the border it means the border is open to anyone so I think they're a little cautious in that respect but we'll see this is something we'll continue to advocate for we feel that it's safe for us to do so for having back and forth type of travel but but obviously this is a decision that President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau will have to make together Tom Davis Compass Vermont if I miss this through the technical issues that we've had but there's been some speculation I've seen in some press but have you made a definitive decision about if you're going to continue with press conferences and if so what that frequency might be well we'll continue yes we'll continue with press conferences press briefings starting tomorrow so we'll continue on that path and hopefully we'll we'll do it weekly so at this point in time it'll be same time Tuesdays at 11 o'clock for the foreseeable future well thank you Erin Potenko Vermont Digger they announced this asking you know what are the rules around children and what are the recommendations for children at this point in time you know obviously they are the last population that is broadly unvaccinated do they have any are there any mass restrictions for them or are there any mass recommendations that you would have for children specifically at this point yeah all restrictions are lifted at this point and I think it's going to be up for for parents families to make decisions about their kids but I might ask Dr. Levine to comment further the governor is correct there are there are no absolute restrictions but it is recommended that those who are unvaccinated which would include this group of children be masked when possible in the indoor environment as opposed to no need for masking outdoors Avery Powell WCAX I'll let Secretary French answer that yeah hi no change in terms of the guidance we had put out previously that said that they should seek to follow our safe and healthy school year guidance for the remaining part of the school year which is for the most part ending this week and to echo Dr. Levine's broader recommendation that if they're inside and unvaccinated they should wear masks yeah we'll continue with a vigorous testing protocol we'll continue to offer that along with where we're talking we'll probably have more information on this in the coming days and and weeks but we're contemplating trying to merge some of the testing facilities with vaccination sites so that we can offer both Colin Flanders seven days upon learning the news last night was there any sort of reaction celebration have you cracked open any champagne bottles any other great questions though yeah no no champagne not even a beer but we'll have plenty of time for that we still have a lot of work to do and want to make sure that we communicate this in the proper way and savor the moment but but at the same time know that you know our world is still under siege and we still have to pay attention and make sure that we we advocate and inspire others to to do what we've done here in the state by getting your vaccination I mean that's the best way to protect ourselves right now and it's within reach for every single American free of charge get your vaccine Greg the Bennington banner thanks Greg Joseph Gresser the Barton Chronicle Joseph Gresser okay we'll move to Julie from the Wall Street Journal any lessons learned that you plan to apply to other ongoing public health crises in the future and to public health in general well obviously we're developing this playbook and we want to make sure that we reflect on what we've done right what we could have done better and start writing that playbook because I'm sure in the future there'll be other opportunities to use what we've we've learned to be better prepared and and to again trust the science the data and and maybe we should all you know as a country as a world invest more in in those health opportunities and and I think Dr. Levine has talked about this in the past where we have not kept up the level of of protection in terms of the health care world so I would say you know there's a lot of silver linings and and and again it's a country we we have so much to be proud of and I give great credit to the the previous administration for developing this operation warp speed where we are able to now have in record time three three vaccines that are viable and and so I don't know as you can look back in history and see that and and again it takes everyone working together to accomplish that so Dr. Levine anything you want to add to the Dr. Levine's all set that's it congratulations thank you very much all right we'll see you all in less than 24 hours for our next press briefing and hopefully we'll be able to address all your questions at that point but again congratulations Vermont you've done a great job and you should take a moment to to say for this and thank you again