WTSA News For Your Wednesday, November 25th:
The Vermont Health Department Tuesday reported 49 new cases of Covid-19 and two additional deaths, for a total of 64 with 3,762 total positive tests. 5 new cases were reported in Windham County for totals of 204 positive tests and 3 deaths.
362 new positive test results for COVID-19, and 1 new death in New Hampshire on Tuesday. There have been 18,383 cases and 513 deaths to date, there were 11 new positive tests in Cheshire County, for totals of 457 cases and 3 dead.
20 newly confirmed deaths and 2,225 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts. The total number of confirmed cases since March statewide is 204,060, with 10,319 confirmed deaths. In Franklin County, there were 7 new positive tests for a total of 599, with 75 deaths.
Vermont could face 3,200 to 3,800 new infections of Covid- 19, if people ignore a ban on multi-household gatherings of any kind, this Thanksgiving weekend. State Financial Regulation Chief Michael Pieciak says the new infections would effectively double the total number of infections in Vermont, plus cause 40 to 50 new hospitalizations. Those numbers are based on a national survey that revealed more than a third of Americans plan to hold multi-household gatherings this holiday.
Two new actions by Vermont Governor Phil Scott, to protect Vermonters from a spike in cases because of those who do not follow COVID-19 gathering or travel restrictions over the Thanksgiving holiday. The state agency of Education is allowing schools to ask families if they gathered with other households. If the answer is yes, students will need to transition to remote learning for 14 days after Thanksgiving break. The high school winter sports season is being postponed. Practices were to have started November 30. Sports are now paused until further notice.
The Vermont Department of Labor has received multiple reports of fraudulent communications relating to unemployment insurance benefits being sent to Vermonters. The Department reminds Vermonters filing to be diligent in preventing fraud and to report any potential fraud to the Department of Labor and Attorney General’s Office. People making a claim are reminded to be vigilant of potential fraud and only use the official website (labor dot vermont dot gov), and sub-pages, to apply and file for unemployment insurance benefits.
All Brattleboro Town offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, with the exception of emergency services. Brooks Memorial Library does not allow in-person visits at this time. Curbside visits and on-line services are available. The Library will close at 5:00pm today and will reopen for curbside pick-up between 10am and 5pm on Friday and Saturday. Parking is free at all metered spaces and in the pay-and-display lots on Thursday and Friday. Parking will resume regular enforcement hours on Saturday. All other violations will be enforced. Trash, recyclables and compost WILL NOT be picked up on Thursday. All usual Thursday collections will be picked up on Friday.
Opioid company Purdue Pharma has pleaded guilty in federal court in New Jersey, to conspiracies to defraud the United States and to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute. The case was investigated by the Vermont U S Attorney’s Office, U S Attorney Christina Nolan says the company’s guilty plea sends a message that the Justice Department will not allow big pharma and big tech to engage in illegal profit-generating schemes that interfere with sound medicine. Under terms of the plea agreement, Purdue agreed to the imposition of the largest penalties ever levied against a pharmaceutical manufacturer, including a criminal fine of three and a half billion dollars and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture.
LOTTERY NUMBERS:
TRI STATE PICK 3 2-5-3
TRI STATE PICK 4 0-3-5-5
LUCKY FOR LIFE 13-23-31-37-39 LUCKY BALL 11
MEGA MILLIONS 9-15-34-61-64 MEGA BALL 5
MASS CASH 3-4-23-26-30
WTSA SPORTS:
A full plate of football on Thanksgiving with the following games tomorrow. Houston visits Detroit, beginning at 12:30. That game is followed up by Washington visiting Dallas. The Thursday Night game is Baltimore visiting Pittsburgh at 8:20.