HANOVER — After reaching a high of more than 750 cases of COVID-19 at the end of last week, cases at Dartmouth College dropped substantially over the weekend.
The college’s dashboard reported 616 active cases on Monday.
Still, case counts remain higher than they have been in previous terms and there have been a total of nearly 1,100 new cases on campus in the past week.
Meanwhile on Monday, the college began allowing masked, indoor gatherings on campus without food or drink. That move, announced in a Sunday message to employees from the college’s COVID response team, rolled back the ban on social gatherings the college had in place at the beginning of the term on Jan. 3.
Organizers of in-person social event are encouraged to have KN95 masks on-hand and to stick with virtual alternatives when possible, the message said.
The resumption of in-person social gatherings comes following the resumption of in-person dining on campus last week.
Senior services agency in Windsor, Windham counties suspends visits SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Senior Solutions has halted home visits amid the current COVID-19 surge.
The Springfield-based agency on aging’s policy will be reviewed weekly, executive director Mark Boutwell wrote in a message posted to the nonprofit organization’s website Jan. 10. He expects case-manager visits will begin again at the end of the month.
“We are highly aware of the health risks to our clients and staff, and believe it is our responsibility to take these precautions,” Boutwell wrote.
Woodstock library suspends most in-person gatherings WOODSTOCK — Groups that meet regularly at Norman Williams Public Library will now switch to Zoom or postpone events due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
Children’s story times — which include weekly gatherings for babies, toddlers and their caregivers — will continue in person, according to a newsletter sent out to patrons Saturday.
Curbside pickup is an option for people who do not want to go inside the library.
Vershire board opts for remote meetings VERSHIRE — The Vershire Selectboard unanimously voted to return to remote meetings at an emergency meeting on Monday night, according to Town Clerk Gene Craft.
The move was made possible by the Legislature’s adoption last week of SB 222 that temporarily drops a requirement that public boards offer a physical meeting space with at least one official present.
Vaccine clinics in Canaan, Claremont and Woodsville CANAAN — There are several COVID-19 vaccine clinics scheduled this week in the Upper Valley.
On Wednesday, the Public Health Council of the Upper Valley, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Canaan Fire Department, Canaan Ambulance, Canaan Police and Canaan Emergency Management are sponsoring a walk-in vaccine clinic for people ages 5 and older at the Canaan Fire Station, 62 NH Rte. 118. The clinic is scheduled to run from 4 to 7 p.m.
Participants should wear a mask, bring a vaccine card if they have one and dress warmly in case of an outdoor wait.
On Friday, the Claremont Soup Kitchen, 53 Central St., will host a walk-in clinic from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. for people age 5 and older.
On Saturday, the Woodsville Fire Department, 4910 Dartmouth College Hwy., will host a clinic for people 5 and older from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but people can start registering in advance at https://www.nchcnh.org/news.php. More information is available by emailing: phn@NCHCNH.org.
Nora Doyle-Burr can be reached at ndoyleburr@vnews.com or 603-727-3213. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.