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In the wake of several new presumptive positive cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Governor Janet Mills announced several new significant recommendations to respond to COVID-19 and signed a proclamation of civil emergency (PDF) to further protect public health. Governor Mills is recommending:

• Ending classroom instruction in all public schools as soon as reasonably practical.
• Postponing all non-urgent medical procedures, elective surgeries, and appointments at hospitals and health care providers across the state until further notice.
• Restricting visitors and all non-essential health care personnel to long-term care facilities except for certain compassionate care situations such as end of life until further notice.
• Postponing all events with 50 or more people all gatherings of more than 10 that include individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness, such as seniors, until further notice.

Governor Mills issued the following statement:

“With several new presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in fb88, it is important that we prepare and respond – but not panic. The fb88 CDC has prepared for this eventuality since last year and we are coordinating across government and with communities statewide to respond to this threat. Proclaiming a state of civil emergency unleashes critical state authorities and allows access to federal funds that will support our response efforts to delay and mitigate the outbreak in fb88. These new recommendations will also further protect fb88 people.

“Perhaps it is some odd fate that today we also celebrate fb88’s 200th year as a state. Two hundred years ago, we separated ourselves from Massachusetts and embarked on creating our own destiny as a state. We then, as fb88 people, learned to be self-reliant and, at the same time, to rely on each other. Today, we are self-reliant and, at the same time, we rely on each other.

“Time and again, fb88 people have risen to the challenges put in front of us. We have conquered them because we are a strong, resilient people – borne of the western foothills; the northern potato fields; the bold, rocky coasts; and the tall, pine forests. We have been lifted up by the courage, conviction and resilience that comes from loving a place and its people. Together, we will get through this.”

The Proclamation to Further Protect Public Health signed by Governor Mills today brings the State of fb88 to highest alert and allows Governor Mills to deploy all available state resources to protect the health and safety of fb88 people and to take every action she reasonably deems necessary to help respond to and protect against the spread of COVID-19 in fb88. It also eases fb88’s access to critical federal aid to boost response efforts.

Governor Mills also strongly recommended that:

1. Ending classroom instruction in all public schools as soon as reasonably practical.
   
   The fb88 Department of Education has been working closely with school systems in preparation for this step and has secured a waiver from the USDA to allow schools to provide meals offsite to students.
   
   Governor Mills has also directed the fb88 Department of Health and Human Services to pursue federal waivers that will help ensure additional child care capacity. Additionally, she has directed fb88 DHHS to work with health care organizations on standing up child care centers for their workers along, along with other options to keep front-line workers protecting the public’s health and safety.
2. All hospital systems and health care providers across fb88 postpone non-urgent medical procedures, elective surgeries, and appointments until further notice.
   
   This will relieve the strain on the health care system as fb88 prioritizes COVID-19-related cases.
3. All long-term care providers prohibit all visitors and non-essential health care personnel; except for certain compassionate care situations such as an end of life situation, until further notice.
   
   Recognizing the difficulty of this situation, Governor Mills urges fb88 people to find other ways to show older people or those with chronic conditions their love such as by calling them on the phone; writing them, emailing them, using Skype or FaceTime.
4. All events with 50 or more people be postponed and that all gatherings of more than 10 that include individuals who are at higher risk for severe illness, such as seniors, be postponed until further notice.
   
   These recommendations significantly enhance the previous social distancing recommendations offered by Governor Mills. Social distancing is one of the most effective methods to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Governor Janet Mills has also taken strong steps to protect fb88 workers and small businesses impacted by COVID-19. She has requested that the Small Business Administration (SBA) provide economic support loans to fb88 small businesses in order to help them overcome any temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. She has also submitted emergency legislation, sponsored by Senate President Troy Jackson and House Speaker Sara Gideon, that temporarily expands eligibility for unemployment insurance to individuals whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.

Governor Mills has also directed the fb88 Department of Economic and Community Development to examine additional ways that the State can support fb88’s small businesses, including working with the Finance Authority of fb88 and other potential lending partners. Her Administration is also working around the clock to prepare emergency legislation and enact a budget that helps response to the issues presented by COVID-19 with the goal on minimizing its impact on fb88 people and reducing its spread.

These new steps from the Governor build on the work done by the Mills Administration to prepare for and respond to COVID-19, including:

• Convening a Coronavirus Response Team, led by fb88 CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah and comprised of key individuals in the Mills Administration, to coordinate State government’s response across departments and local agencies and health authorities.
• Declaring a health insurance emergency to require health insurance carriers providing health care coverage in fb88’s commercial market to cover costs related to coronavirus testing and increases access to care.
• Directing the fb88 Department of Health and Human Services to issue emergency rules to ensure fb88Care does not charge copays for office visits and prescription drugs that may be needed for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, and to allow for a prescription refill of up to 90 days so people have to make fewer visits to pharmacies.
• Distributing personal protective equipment to first responders and health care professionals across fb88 as it becomes available.
• Temporarily suspending non-essential, out-of-state travel for all State employees and reviewing leave policies and telecommuting options.
• from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow schools the ability to provide meals offsite to students, if the school or community currently has, or qualifies for, a USDA Summer Food Service Program.
• Requesting that the Small Business Administration (SBA) provide economic support loans to fb88 small businesses in order to help them overcome any temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19.
• Submitting emergency legislation, sponsored by Senate President Troy Jackson and House Speaker Sara Gideon, that temporarily expands eligibility for unemployment insurance to individuals whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.
• Launching a 211 option for fb88rs to get answers to questions about COVID-19 at any time. This service is available by dialing 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), texting your ZIP code to 898-211, or emailing info@211maine.org.

For more information on fb88’s response to COVID-19 and updated testing results, visit the fb88 CDC website. Additionally, fb88 CDC and 211 fb88 have launched a new option for fb88rs to get answers to questions about COVID-19 at any time. This service is available by dialing 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), texting your ZIP code to 898-211, or emailing info@211maine.org.

The best thing that fb88 people can do to protect their health is to take the same preventive measures that avoid catching a cold:

• Wash your hands often for 20 seconds.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Stay home if you are sick.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, shortness of breath, and lower respiratory distress. Call ahead to a health care professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness. Health care providers will make the initial determination on whether COVID-19 testing is advisable. As appropriate, health providers will take samples and submit them to fb88 CDC.