Vermont Declares COVID-19 State of Emergency on This Day in History

Governor Phil Scott enacted mitigation measures to slow the spread of the virus in the early days of the pandemic.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:21pm

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On March 13, 2020, Vermont Governor Phil Scott declared a state of emergency at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The governor's emergency order prohibited large social gatherings and recommended that people work from home, with further restrictions like school closures soon to follow as the state responded to the growing public health crisis.

Why it matters

This declaration of a state of emergency marked a pivotal moment in Vermont's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the governor took early action to implement mitigation measures and lay the groundwork for more stringent policies to come as the situation evolved.

The details

With just a few COVID-19 cases reported in Vermont at the time, Governor Scott announced the state of emergency and said, "So today, we're going to enact mitigation measures that will help slow the spread." The initial emergency order prohibited large social gatherings and encouraged remote work, setting the stage for further restrictions like school closures in the weeks that followed.

  • On March 13, 2020, Governor Phil Scott declared a state of emergency in Vermont at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

The players

Governor Phil Scott

The governor of Vermont who declared a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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What they’re saying

“So today, we're going to enact mitigation measures that will help slow the spread.”

— Governor Phil Scott

The takeaway

Vermont's early declaration of a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 set the stage for the state's comprehensive pandemic response, as the governor took proactive steps to implement mitigation measures and prepare the state for the challenges that lay ahead.