As of 6/29/2020

Vermont Residents

• Vermonters may travel outside of Vermont to counties across New England and New York (as well as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio as of July 1, 2020) that have a similar active COVID-19 caseload to Vermont and return without quarantining if they do so in a personal vehicle.
• Vermonters must remember to follow any travel restrictions and quarantine requirements for the states they plan to visit.
• If they travel to a quarantine county or outside of New England and New York (or outside of the Northeastern United States as of July 1, 2020), Vermonters will be required to quarantine in Vermont upon return. Read more about quarantining at the Vermont Department of Health website.

Non-Vermont Residents

• Residents of other states who live in counties across New England and New York (as well as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio as of July 1, 2020) that have a similar active COVID-19 caseload to Vermont may enter the state for leisure travel without quarantining if they do so in a personal vehicle.
• Residents of other states who live in a quarantine county or are from any other state outside of New England or New York(or outside of the Northeastern United States as of July 1, 2020), must follow quarantine guidelines:
  • Travelers arriving to Vermont in a personal vehicle, may complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test in their home state and enter Vermont without further quarantine restrictions.
  • Travelers arriving to Vermont via public transportation (plane, train, bus) or from further than a direct car ride would allow may complete either a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine followed by a negative test in a Vermont lodging establishment or with friends and family (travelers must stay in their quarantine location for the duration of quarantine other than to travel to and from a test site).
  • Read more about quarantining at the Vermont Department of Health website.
• All out of state travelers utilizing lodging, camping and short-term rental properties in Vermont must sign and complete a Certificate of Compliance to attest that they have met all quarantine requirements.
• All out of state travelers are strongly encouraged to register with Sara Alert upon arrival to Vermont to get two weeks of daily reminders to check for common symptoms of COVID-19.

Learn more about isolation, quarantine, and self-observation.

Face Mask Requirement

As of June 2, 2020, all establishments in the Town of Manchester must require that both staff and customers (or visitors) wear cloth face coverings or face shields over their nose and mouth while inside the building of the establishment.

Masks are not required while eating, exercising, in a private room or office.

• Effective June 26, occupancy limits for event venues, arts, culture, and entertainment venues, as well as restaurants can expand capacity for events and dining to 50% of approved occupancy size or one person per 100 square feet of customer-facing space. This change will allow for indoor events of up to 75 people and outdoor organized events of up to 150.  Press Release | ACCD Guidance
• Several measures to gradually ease restrictions on Vermonters in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and those over the age of 65. Press Release | Governor’s Press Conference
• Updated and extended State of Emergency in Vermont to July 15. The latest order reflects all current (June 15) re-openings and eased restrictions, which have been underway since late April to account for the State’s low case counts and continued slow growth rate. Amended and Restated Executive Order 01-20 | Press Release | Governor’s Press Conference
• $400 million economic relief and recovery package, using funds from the $1.25 billion the state received from the Federal CARES Act. Proposal | Press Conference

Retail Operations

• • Non-essential retail operations are limited to 25% capacity, or 1 customer per 200 square feet or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater.
  • Organized outdoor markets, farmers markets, flea markets, and pick-your-own agricultural producers must adhere to the retail guidelines.
  • Yard sales and garage sales may occur at private residences with 25 or fewer people present at any one time.

Restaurants – Outdoor Dining Permitted 

• Reservations or call ahead seating is required.
• Tables must be spaced a minimum of 10 feet apart.
• Members of only 2 households and 10 total people may be seated at the same table.
• EFFECTIVE JUNE 26th: Restaurants, catering, food service, and bars may allow 50% of fire safety occupancy or 1 person per 100 square feet, with a maximum of 75 people indoors and 150 people outdoors.
• Operators must limit the total number of customers served/seated in OUTSIDE seating at one time to 50 (150 effective June 26th)

Lodging, Campgrounds and Other Accommodations

• Lodging operations, short-term rentals, campgrounds, and marinas may accept overnight reservations from Vermont residents and those who have met the 14-day quarantine requirement. All guests must complete a health questionnaire upon check-in. Any guests that exhibit signs of illness or COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival may not be allowed to check-in.
•  (Effective June 8) Inns, hotels and other lodging can book 50% of their rooms for guests or have 25 guests and staff on the property, whichever is larger, according to the new guidance from the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. Long-term guests, such as essential workers, may exceed that occupancy threshold, the ACCD said, and the limits don’t apply to stand-alone cabins, cottages, and short-term rentals.

Social Gatherings of Up to 25 People 

• Inside gatherings are limited to 25% occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet.

Indoor Arts, Culture and Entertainment 

• Libraries, galleries, museums, theaters, and other indoor arts, culture, and entertainment organizations are limited to 25% (twenty-five percent) of approved fire safety occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet; or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater.

Outdoor Recreation Businesses, Facilities and Organizations 

• Outdoor gatherings are limited to 25 people or less. 
• Large outdoor facilities such as trail networks and municipal parks may have more than 25 people in them as long as there are no large gatherings in any one distinct portion of the facility exceeding 25 people.  
• Pools and beaches may open if they can comply with this guidance.
• Golf courses may open but must follow the state’s safety guidelines.
• Outdoor sporting events may occur with up to 150 people including participants and spectators as long as spectator areas can accommodate adequate social distancing of at least 100 square feet per person.
  

Religious Facilities and Places of Worship 

• Operations are limited to 25% occupancy; or 1 person per 200 square feet, whichever ensures physical distancing. Outdoor, drive-in, and remote services remain the preferred method of operation.
• EFFECTIVE JUNE 26th:  Organizations may allow 50 percent of fire safety occupancy or 1 person per 100 square feet, with a maximum of 75 people indoors and 150 people outdoors.

Hair Salons and Barber Shops

• Operations are limited to 25%occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet; or 10 total customers and staff combined, whichever is greater. 
• Operators should separate customers in chairs, to achieve physical distancing of 6 feet. To the greatest extent possible, operations shall be by appointment only with specified time periods for each client. No walk-In appointments or at home visits (house calls) are allowed.

Close Contact Businesses 

• Gymnasiums, fitness centers, and similar exercise facilities, massage therapists, nail salons, spas, tattoo parlors, indoor recreation facilities (such as skating rinks and field houses), businesses that require home visits, such as cleaning services and similar operations, and businesses that require limited close personal contact may resume in-person operations subject to the mandatory health and safety requirements. Operations are limited to 25% occupancy; or 1 customer per 200 square feet and, no classes of more than 25 people shall occur in any single, distinct indoor space. 
• Operators should separate customers to maintain physical distancing of 6 feet for any activity that will occur for more than a few moments (e.g. a retail transaction). 
• To the greatest extent possible, operations shall be by appointment only with specified time periods for each client. No walk-In appointments are allowed.

Our members are listed below, we encourage you to support them whether they are open at a limited capacity, operating online, or if you plan to visit them in the near future. Please follow the safety guidelines as you enjoy our town.

We are doing our best to keep every business’ individual webpage updated with the latest information. We always recommend calling our friendly business owners ahead of time to double-check their current procedures as they welcome you back.