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MARCH 19, 2020
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Vt. Meat and Seafood co-owner tests positive for COVID-19 He is quarantined as wife gives birth to son
Observer staff report
By Jason Starr Observer staff
Dana Pontbriand is resting at his home in Williston. His newborn son is 25 miles away at his parents’ house in South Hero. They have yet to meet. His business, Williston’s Vermont Meat and Seafood Market, is temporarily closed. Pontbriand is quarantined. Except for video phone calls, he still hasn’t seen his wife since she gave birth Sunday at the hospital in Burlington. To receive news that you have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus, especially for someone who co-owns a food market, is life-altering. To come down with the illness simultaneous to your wife going into labor as a first-time parent is hardly fathomable. “It’s been the most exciting and painful 36 hours of my life,” Pontbriand said in an email Monday to the Observer. Pontbriand said his symptoms came on mildly Friday. It had been an extra busy week at the Cornerstone Drive business as customers stocked up in reaction to the spreading virus, and he thought his tiredness could be from the extra busy work week. But his symptoms progressed to body aches and chills, and he stayed home from work Saturday. At 2 a.m. Sunday, Pontbriand woke up to find he had a fever, and that his wife was starting to have contractions. She made plans to go to the hospital for the birth, but her doctor advised Pontbriand not to come. Instead, he would be contacted by the Vermont Department of Health and sent to the Fanny
Gov. Scott orders bars, restaurants to go takeout only
Allen facility in Colchester, where he would be tested for COVID-19. Awaiting the result from home Sunday afternoon, he watched his wife give birth through a video phone call. A short time later, he received a text that he was positive for COVID-19. “I then realized I would not see my wife and new child for the next 14 days,” he said. Under quarantine, Pontbriand has two main concerns: the health of his wife and son and the impact on Vermont Meat and Seafood staff and customers. Pontbriand said he was feeling better as of Monday afternoon, and his wife tested negative for the virus Monday night. His newborn son was not tested. Pontbriand is one of 17 people to
have tested positive for the virus in Vermont, according to the Vermont Department of Health’s Wednesday update. “One thing I want to make clear,” he said, “is that I called my on-call doctor’s office at 4 a.m. Sunday. I told him all of my symptoms and was not believed to have COVID-19. I only was given a test because my wife was having a baby.” He has no idea how he contracted the virus. “At this time my wife and I are asking for privacy and for understanding,” he said. Pontbriand’s business partner, co-owner Eric LaVigne, has taken on the task of a deep sanitization of the store. All employees have been
asked to self-quarantine for two weeks. although none were having symptoms as of Tuesday. “Health officials feel as if customers are an extremely low risk,” Pontbriand said. “Employees and family are at a medium risk.” Closing the store was voluntary, LaVigne noted, not a health department directive. None of the store’s employees have shown symptoms, he noted. “It was a very difficult decision, but it’s in the best interest of our employees and the community,” LaVigne said. Editor’s note: This is an updated version of the story we posted on the Williston Observer Facebook page on Monday.
Gov. Phil Scott on Monday announced new guidance in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus, three days after declaring a state of emergency in Vermont. Scott ordered the closure of all bars and restaurants statewide, except takeout and delivery service, effective through at least April 6. He also restricted the size of gatherings to no more than 50 people or 50 percent of the occupancy of a facility, whichever is lesser. The restrictions came as the number of coronavirus cases in Vermont grew. The number of confirmed cases was 17 as of Wednesday. Additionally, state government agencies and departments are transitioning state employees to remote work. According to the Department of Health, most individuals affected by COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate symptoms, but some individuals — especially the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions — are at higher risk of getting very sick. “I want Vermonters to know we’re continuously evaluating other mitigation steps and we’ll continue to communicate those as they are put into place,” Scott said. “It’s important to remember that in times of crisis we all need to make sacrifices. But Vermonters, and all Americans, have risen to many challenges before, and this time will be no different.”