COVID concerns in the Northeast

[da-bum]

The main thing is molecular and antigen, but the media is creating more confusion by using the term PCR and rapidtest. Even highly acclaimed doctors comes on and specifically use those 2 terms, saying one is the gold standard and the other is not accurate. You think people with casual knowledge would be saying that, but for them to dumb it down like that to the point of being inaccurate is misleading. You think 24 hour news with more time than news to cover would go into detail with that, but they just harp on the same few 'breaking news' on an hourly basis.

 

[thetrailboss]

Be smart, folks.....

In a pandemic, safety at Vermont ski resorts hinges on an honor system - VTDigger

Local residents flag concerns about travelers gathering to ski, while resorts walk the line between enforcement and breaking even.

vtdigger.org

On social media, photos have circulated widely of crowded lift lines, along with stories of parking lots packed with non-Vermont license plates. Kurrle said those photos were the subject of several official complaints to the state.

In Killington’s parking lot this week, several skiers from out of state told VTDigger they hadn’t quarantined, and some had already traveled to multiple resorts.

A reporter from WCAX called to a crowd of skiers in a lift line at Killington last week, asking whether anyone was from Vermont. The crowd was silent.

Wright said he often struggles with the issue. He has a friend who recently moved to Vermont, and she reported a significant difference in behavior from other drivers after she switched her license plates, which bothered him. Still, he was unnerved by sudden increases in drivers from out of state.

“I want them to play by the rules,” he said. “As a parent, it’s really important for my kid to go back to in-person learning. Working at the college, I just look at how much work time and effort we’ve spent into managing Covid on campus. We’ve invested all this energy, and all it takes is someone not following the rules, and then it spreads like wildfire.”

He’s seen posts from travelers who say they’ll arrive, ski and leave, but he worries about those who stop for gas, go into stores for food, or interact with customer service at the resorts.

“You’re plugging into those communities just for a second, but that contact can be catastrophic,” he said. “I think that’s what all of us in Vermont struggle with.”

Kurrle said the industry revenue will likely decrease 40% to 70% this season, a significant hit to the state’s economy. In an average year, the sport brings around 4 million skiers and riders to Vermont.

“We knew it’d be tough,” said Mike Solimano, president and general manager at Killington. “The ski resort business is very expensive to operate, and very capital-intensive. So most of us can’t survive with a 50% reduction in revenue. This is a survival year, to be totally honest.”

He said reservations are down 40% to 50% for the upcoming holiday week.

An employee who frequently works at ski resorts in Southern Vermont told VTDigger he consistently sees sizable crowds that are equivalent to holiday weekends in a normal year. Guests often openly flout or joke about the guidelines, he said. He asked not to be named to protect his employment.

Resorts can revoke skiers’ passes if they aren’t adhering to mask wearing, social distancing, or if the resort learns a skier hasn’t quarantined.

“If we find somebody hasn’t done that, we’ve already told people that we will pull their pass and probably give their name to the state,” Solimano said. “It’s the same thing if people are on site and refuse to wear a mask. We have a no tolerance policy for either of those.”

 

[abc]

Resorts can revoke skiers’ passes if they aren’t adhering to mask wearing, social distancing, or if the resort learns a skier hasn’t quarantined.

“If we find somebody hasn’t done that, we’ve already told people that we will pull their pass and probably give their name to the state,” Solimano said. “It’s the same thing if people are on site and refuse to wear a mask. We have a no tolerance policy for either of those.”

Perfect!

Vail owns multiple resorts. They can pull the passes of anyone who visited a resort outside of VT and then show up at a VT resort in less than 14 days! Right?

But of course, if you booked a priority day in NH, and another one at VT the following day, and it's done before you realize there's a quarantine restriction, you SHOULD cancel it. However, will Vail dock you for "cancellation" and restrict you from making reservation for 3 weeks?

Do the right thing, Vail!

Or, don't do the right thing if you're an Epic pass holder. Just show up for everyday of your reservation! Quarantine my a*s

 

[Smellytele]

People are fuckin’ idiots. Why tell people you haven’t quarantined? You already lied toget there just keep up the charade at that point.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Perfect!

Vail owns multiple resorts. They can pull the passes of anyone who visited a resort outside of VT and then show up at a VT resort in less than 14 days! Right?

But of course, if you booked a priority day in NH, and another one at VT the following day, and it's done before you realize there's a quarantine restriction, you SHOULD cancel it. However, will Vail dock you for "cancellation" and restrict you from making reservation for 3 weeks?

Do the right thing, Vail!

Or, don't do the right thing if you're an Epic pass holder. Just show up for everyday of your reservation! Quarantine my a*s

the scanning systems are not set up to flag consecutive days in different states.

for like the millionth fucking time, there is no enforcement. it is not enforced, nor is it enforceable. just don't behave like a fucking asshole.

 

[abc]

for like the millionth fucking time, there is no enforcement. it is not enforced, nor is it enforceable.

I'm just pointing out the Vail policy is encouraging people to disregard health policies.

For example, if someone is feeling a bit unwell. Not sure it's Covid related. If they cancel, it's on Vail's book against them for cancelling. So just to be on the "safe side" as far as keeping peace with Vail, it's easier to just show up and ski. What the hell if it turns out it is Covid!

 

[JimG.]

1) What Smelly said; if you're going to be a jerk don't advertise.

2) I'd care a lot more about what Vermonters are freaking out about if I didn't see so many VT plates in NY including at ski areas. Talk about hypocrisy!

 

[deadheadskier]

Not skiing related, but friends of my neighbors got a $500 fine this week for being in Massachusetts without quarantine. They got pulled over for speeding, had out of state plates and were honest about visiting friends. $500 ticket and told to go home.

 

[zyk]

Not skiing related, but friends of my neighbors got a $500 fine this week for being in Massachusetts without quarantine. They got pulled over for speeding, had out of state plates and were honest about visiting friends. $500 ticket and told to go home.

So follow a very convoluted set of state to state rules or lie. Not good choices.

Recently crossed multiple state lines to pick up a rescue. No stops except for gas and only interaction was at the point of pickup. We had been quarantined but felt it was safer that way. Mind you I have a 7 day rental credit at Attitash so it would have been nice to have a mini vacation.

 

[Keelhauled]

So follow a very convoluted set of state to state rules or lie. Not good choices.

Or you could, as the saying goes, only break one law at a time. There is an awful lot of "don't ask, don't tell" going on with travel these days, but if you're stupid about it you kinda gotta accept the consequences IMO.

 

[Slidebrook87]

From what I’ve seen and what I generally predict, there are 3 “types” of skiers regarding traveling. The first group is the group that just goes about their daily lives somewhat recklessly and then goes skiing and is not too diligent about the masks and all and may be asked several times to pull the mask up. The second group is the people who are not necessarily quarantining, but are mostly staying home, only going out to get food, prescriptions, etc. When these people go skiing they are cautious and adhere to the safety protocols. The third group is the smallest amount of people most likely who absolutely stay inside their house for 2 weeks and then drive up, and are vigilant with the safety protocols. I’ll let you decide what group you fall into.

 

[Andrew B.]

From what I’ve seen and what I generally predict, there are 3 “types” of skiers regarding traveling. The first group is the group that just goes about their daily lives somewhat recklessly and then goes skiing and is not too diligent about the masks and all and may be asked several times to pull the mask up. The second group is the people who are not necessarily quarantining, but are mostly staying home, only going out to get food, prescriptions, etc. When these people go skiing they are cautious and adhere to the safety protocols. The third group is the smallest amount of people most likely who absolutely stay inside their house for 2 weeks and then drive up, and are vigilant with the safety protocols. I’ll let you decide what group you fall into.

So two of the three are behaving as science dictates. Science (Nor COVID) see state lines. The third group aren’t going to comply with science no matter what the states guidance is especially when the guidance is un-enforceable.

 

[Andrew B.]

Not skiing related, but friends of my neighbors got a $500 fine this week for being in Massachusetts without quarantine. They got pulled over for speeding, had out of state plates and were honest about visiting friends. $500 ticket and told to go home.

What were the exact charges? I would like to know what statute the police officer cited.

Was it just a $500 speeding ticket?

 

[thetrailboss]

What were the exact charges? I would like to know what statute the police officer cited.

Was it just a $500 speeding ticket?

Sounds like it was a $500 fine for failing to comply with the state COVID rules.

 

[Andrew B.]

Sounds like it was a $500 fine for failing to comply with the state COVID rules.

Would be interesting to know what statue was used. I can’t find anything that says you are violating “MGL chapt xx section bb” for this scenario.

 

[icecoast1]

Would be interesting to know what statue was used. I can’t find anything that says you are violating “MGL chapt xx section bb” for this scenario.

They're coming through executive orders issued by the state's governor

 

[Andrew B.]

They're coming through executive orders issued by the state's governor

It’s EO 45 and it calls for $500/violation

 

[drjeff]

A couple of Restaurants/bars and 1 grocery store by Mount Snow are closing for a week or so "out of an abundance of caution" due to Covid concerns.

In her weekly email update that the local state rep puts out, that hit those who subscribe to it's email inboxes today, the state rep explicitly stated to not presume that the uptick is fully attributed to folks coming in from out of the area, and that locals, not always abiding by mask wearing and social distancing protocols, have also played a role in the uptick.

The bars/Restaurants that are temporarily closed tend to be local hangouts. Rumors are that some of the Carinthia parks staff have tested positive after an afterwork gathering or 2.

Who knows what the exact origin is. For perspective over the last week, the daily reported new cases for Windham County, VT, where Mount Snow is and also includes Brattleboro, went from roughly 5 new per day up to 14 new just before Christmas, and as of today's report, back down to 8 new cases. Gives some perspective as to what a potential "spike" is around SW VT

 

[skiur]

They're coming through executive orders issued by the state's governor

Exactly, none of these executive orders for covid violations has been challenged in court yet. Just because it happened (according to third hand knowledge) does not mean that the summons is legal.

 

[deadheadskier]

Would be interesting to know what statue was used. I can’t find anything that says you are violating “MGL chapt xx section bb” for this scenario.

The travel order.

What to Know: More States Added to Mass. Travel Order Before Thanksgiving

Effective Saturday, Massachusetts is requiring that people arriving in the state from New York and Washington State, as well as the nation’s capitol, stay in quarantine. Under Massachusetts’ travel order, these areas join all but four states across the nation considered to be a higher risk for...

www.nbcboston.com