Newsroom

Maine people can enjoy campgrounds this Memorial Day Weekend; State delays full reopening of gyms, fitness centers, and nail salons

The Mills Administration announced today the following updates to its plan to restart Maine’s economy: 1) Maine residents may enjoy campgrounds beginning Memorial Day weekend; and 2) the Administration is delaying the full reopening of gyms, fitness centers, and nail salons in light of emerging research and experiences in other states of COVID-19 transmission related to these establishments.

To further protect the health and safety of essential employees in Maine, including members of the media, the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is providing 1900 cloth face coverings to the Maine Association of Broadcasters (MAB) for distribution to the state's broadcast media outlets.

Today, Governor Janet Mills and U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden convened a Zoom conference call to discuss the State’s response to COVID-19 and the Congressional Delegation’s work in Congress to support the State’s efforts.

Expanded testing resulting from IDEXX agreement is now operational, allowing Maine health care providers to test more people beginning today

Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has eliminated its testing prioritization system and is now allowing health care providers in Maine to seek testing for anyone they suspect of having COVID-19.

Governor Janet Mills and Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin announced today that the Maine Department of Education has secured internet access and devices to facilitate at home learning for 100 percent of Maine school children for whom there was a reported need. The success comes as Maine educators have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and creativity in response to the suspension of classroom-based instruction as a result of COVID-19, providing invaluable and meaningful personal connection and assurance to students in a time of great uncertainty.

Department of Economic and Community Development also posts additional COVID-19 Prevention Checklists to help businesses prepare for Stage 2 & FAQs to answer common questions

The Mills Administration announced that, effective immediately, Maine lodging providers can begin accepting future reservations for stays with an arrival date of June 1st and beyond for Maine residents and for non-residents who comply with the State’s 14-day quarantine requirement.

As the State continues to respond to COVID-19, Governor Janet Mills today signed a proclamation extending Maine’s state of civil emergency for thirty days through June 11, 2020. This will be Governor Mills’ second extension of the State of Civil Emergency.

Those who have lost a job or income can visit CoverME.gov to learn more and apply

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today launched a statewide campaign to promote awareness of affordable health insurance options, particularly for people whose employment or income has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plan will allow for reopening of certain businesses in rural Maine with safety precautions, timeline aligns with neighboring New Hampshire

State of Maine partners with IDEXX to more than triple its testing capacity

Governor Janet Mills announced today that her Administration has secured a major expansion of COVID-19 testing for the State of Maine. The Administration has partnered with Maine-based IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. to purchase enough of the company’s recently authorized COVID-19 testing kits to more than triple the State’s testing capacity. The breakthrough will soon allow anyone in Maine suspected of having COVID-19 to receive a test.

Business leaders, education officials, non-profits, labor and tribal representatives, economic development experts, and elected officials to shape economic recovery

Governor Janet Mills announced today that she is convening an Economic Recovery Committee charged with developing recommendations to mitigate the damage to Maine’s economy caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to jumpstart a long-term economic recovery for Maine people, businesses, and organizations.

As Maine enters Stage 1 of the Governor’s Restarting Maine’s Economy Plan today, Governor Janet Mills spoke directly to the people of Maine today to tell them that, although times are tough, Maine people will persevere and will not give up on each other:

Governor Janet Mills, Director of Opioid Response Gordon Smith, and Director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office of Behavioral Health Jessica Pollard issued the following statements in response to the 2019 drug overdose death report released today by the Maine Attorney General’s Office:

“Stay Safer at Home” Executive Order permits new activities under Phase 1 of restarting plan & requires cloth face coverings in some public settings

Governor will extend stay-at-home order with modifications to allow for activities and business operations deemed safe

Governor also freezes non-emergency spending & hiring by State government and renews calls on Federal government to provide states with flexibility to use Federal funding

Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of Education Pender Makin today congratulated six Maine students who were recognized as being among our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors. These students were named national semifinalists in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Science, public health, and collaboration will drive Maine’s phased-in approach to reopening the economy when the time is right

Governor Janet Mills today outlined her vision for a gradual and safe reopening of Maine’s economy amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, emphasizing four principles that will guide the State’s decision-making process and inviting Maine people to offer their ideas through a new portal launched by the Department of Economic and Community Development.

Governor Janet Mills and Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew announced today that nearly $11 million in federal funds will support access to child care for Maine’s essential workers, including health care professionals and first responders, and offer relief for child care providers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement in response to the President’s Guidelines for Opening Up America Again:

Governor issues EO on evictions, establishes rental assistance relief program with MaineHousing & urges mortgage lenders to provide flexibility to homeowners facing financial hardship

Governor Janet Mills took significant steps today to keep Maine people in their homes and Maine businesses in their storefronts as COVID-19 continues to create financial hardships across the state.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement on the explosion at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay:

“I am closely monitoring all information concerning the explosion at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay. Officials with the Department of Public Safety are on scene, along with first responders, and more are on the way. I will be in close contact with public safety officials regarding further developments and to direct all necessary State resources.

As the State continues to respond to COVID-19, Governor Janet Mills today signed a proclamation extending Maine’s state of civil emergency (PDF) for another thirty days through May 15, 2020. The original state of civil emergency was scheduled to expire tomorrow, April 15, 2020.

Governor calls for USDA to guarantee adequate food supply and address supply chain gaps

Governor Janet Mills today joined a coalition of Governors from Delaware, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin in writing to U.S.