Governor Mills has announced today during an official press conference, “Moving Maine Forward”, an updated plan & timeline for business to re-open this spring with a continued emphasis on mask-wearing, social distancing protocols, & enhanced cleaning. Timeline is subject to change & scale back if, as quoted by Mills, “things go south.” Updated changes detailed below.
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Gatherings & Capacity Limits:
Going forward the State of Maine will move from hard numbers, which was previously the 50 person limit, to a percentage of space model instead. Bars & tasting rooms are scheduled to open on March 26th.
Indoor gatherings:
- March 26 – 50% capacity
- May 24 – 75% capacity
Outdoor gatherings:
- March 26 – 75% capacity
- May 24 – 100% capacity
Businesses that have more capacity under the current policy of 50 people for indoor gatherings, 100 people for outdoor gatherings, or 5 people per 1,000 square feet, are permitted to maintain this standard until the May 24th change.
Travel/ Visitor Changes:
- Effective immediately, Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island join Vermont & New Hampshire as states whose residents can come to Maine without testing or quarantining.
- Anyone who is fully vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19 can come to Maine without testing or quarantine. This has been added to the certificate of compliance.
Beginning May 1st, the default will become that residents & visitors from any state can visit without testing or quarantine. If residents of another state pose a significantly higher risk, the State may place a test/quarantine requirement on that residents/visitors from that state.
Read more on the State’s website