A Vermonter can take a walk with a friend or neighbor, Gov. Phil Scott said on Friday. It was a change to the ban on multi-household gatherings announced on Nov. 13.
Scott said outdoor fitness activities can now involve two people from different households, so long as they wear masks and maintain physical distancing.
When he announced the gathering ban on Nov. 13, the governor faced questions about why walks with neighbors were banned while gyms and indoor dining remained open. Scott said patronizing those businesses, which have instituted health precautions, “is much different from you going out with your neighbor for an hour or two when you don’t know what your neighbor has done.”
In response to a question on Friday about the change, Scott said, “We wanted to inject some common sense and be sure that people who wanted to bike together, or hike together, or walk together, could do so — but no more than two at a time.”
The governor also clarified that those living in an unsafe situation can leave and take shelter with another household. As specified in the original ban, those who live alone are also permitted to gather with one other household.