Gov. Mills Announces ‘Stay Healthy at Home’ Executive Order
Gov. Janet Mills announced in a press conference Tuesday afternoon new restrictions for Mainers in response to the growing numbers of Mainers testing positive for COVID-19.
Effective Thursday April 2 until April 30, the Governor has ordered all Mainers to stay home unless you work for an essential business or need to do an essential activity.
Essential jobs include people working in places such as hospitals, grocery stores, pharmacies, truck delivery and distribution of goods. Essential personal activities include getting groceries, medication or needing health or emergency services. Walking, hiking, running, or biking, is allowed as long as social distancing is practiced.
The executive order prohibits the use of public transportation unless it's for an essential reason or job that cannot be done from home. It also limits the number or people traveling in private vehicles to the immediate household unless transporting for essential personal activities.
The number of people allowed at essential businesses at any one time is also restricted and businesses must conduct as much business as possible by curbside order and pick up or delivery to limit in-person contact, and enforce physical distancing in and around their stores Disinfecting handles of every shopping cart and basket between uses is required.
Essential businesses with less than 7500 square feet, like gas stations and convenience stores, must limit the number of customers in the store at one time to 5.
Businesses more than 7,500 and less than 25,000 square feet, such as pharmacies and hardware stores, must limit customers in the store at one time to 15. More than 25,000 and less than 50,000 square feet, such as mid-sized and locally owned grocery stores must limit the number of customers in the store at one time to 50. More than 50,000 and less than 75,000 square feet must limit the number of customers in the store at one time to 75. And large stores with more than 75,000 square feet, like Walmart and Home Depot must limit the number of customers in the store at one time to 100 and install protective shields between customers and checkout clerks. Six-foot separation between any customers waiting in lines must be adhered to as well.
Violators of the order could be subject to six months in jail and a $1000 fine.
Here's the entire press conference with Governor Mills from Tuesday afternoon.