Governor Mills Issues New Face Covering Order After 183 New Cases Reported Thursday
Governor Janet Mills announced a new executive order Thursday requiring Mainers to wear face coverings regardless of the ability to maintain social distancing. The order comes after the third consecutive day that the Maine CDC has reported the highest daily COVID-19 case count with 183 new cases.
According to the executive order, masks must be worn in public places, indoors and outdoors where people gather closely. Owners of public places must post signs notifying people of the requirement and have the authority to refuse entry to people who choose not to wear a face covering. A clear definition of public spaces is included in the text of the order.
According to the the Maine CDC's Thursday update, the cumulative number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Maine is now at 7,260, an increase of 183 since Wednesday and another new all-time record high for daily case counts. 6,417 of those cases are confirmed while 843 are deemed probable.
Over the past seven days, the Maine CDC has reported 793 new cases of COVID-19 with Maine's 7-day positivity rate increasing from a low of 0.42% to 1.52% percent.
There were no new deaths reported of individuals with COVID-19, keeping the total at 150. 510 patients have had to be hospitalized at some point. 38 are currently hospitalized with 17 in intensive care and 2 on a ventilator.
5,751 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered, an increase of 65 since Tuesday. The total number of diagnosed active cases of COVID-19 is 1,359, an increase of 118 and the highest number of active cases in Maine since the pandemic began.
Indoor gatherings have returned to a maximum of 50 people, regardless of capacity, while outdoor activities will remain at 100 people with physical distancing and the use of face coverings.
People traveling from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are no longer exempt from Maine’s quarantine or negative test requirement.
Bars and tasting rooms were scheduled to begin reopening for indoor seated service on November 2, 2020 but that has now been postponed until further notice.
Governor Mills has extended the State of Emergency in Maine through November 27, allowing Maine to continue to receive federal funding and use available resources to respond to COVID-19.
An executive order remains in place requiring large retail stores, lodging, restaurants, outdoor bars and tasting rooms to enforce the state's face covering requirement.
If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, including a runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, fever and in severe cases, difficulty breathing, the Maine CDC says you should call your doctor before going in so that they can prepare for your arrival. The Maine CDC continues to update with new information daily. Keep checking on our mobile app or website to get the latest.
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