FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Contact: Alyssa Wood
Alyssa.Wood@Maine200.org
207-441-2713

Statehood Day ceremony in Augusta postponed due to COVID-19 precautions

AUGUSTA – The Maine Statehood Day Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at 1 pm,  at the Augusta Armory is postponed.

Governor Janet T. Mills today, in coordination with the Maine Centers for Disease Control, issued a recommendation to postpone all non-essential indoor gatherings of 250 or more people, for the next 30 days, to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“The Maine Bicentennial Commission is following the guidance of Maine’s CDC to ensure that our event will not contribute to the spread of this disease,” said Chairman Senator Bill Diamond. “We will reschedule the Statehood celebration for a date when everyone can safely come together to join us in observing 200 years of Maine statehood.”

The United States Postal Service unveiling of the Maine Bicentennial postage stamp, which was slated to be part of this Statehood Day ceremony, is also postponed. It will be rescheduled to a date that will likely coincide with the Statehood Day ceremony, as planned.

The State of Maine currently has one presumptive positive case of the virus, and cases have now been reported in surrounding states.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the COVID-19 virus a pandemic, as it is spreading in multiple countries at the same time, and called for preventive actions worldwide.

Visit Maine200.org for updates on bicentennial events and programs.