Mills may reopen Maine's economy but extend home-stay mandate, as numbers rise

File Photo / Maureen Milliken Gov. Janet Mills, seen here in a file photo, announced plans to reopen the economy, with limits. At right is Nirav Shah, director of the Maine CDC.

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By William Hall

Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday was expected to unveil a plan reopening Maine business operations — but also to announce she’s extending her current directive that residents stay at home to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The executive order, which she imposed March 31 and is due to expire Thursday, requires Mainers to remain in their homes except when performing a job or personal activities the state deems “essential.”

The city of Portland, which on March 24 enacted a similar measure, renewed that order Monday night. It now runs until May 18, and adds a requirement that workers who interact with the public wear protective face coverings.

Statewide, businesses have also been operating for a month under a Mills requirement that shuttered public-facing facilities of nonessential businesses and limited customer traffic at essential ones.

In a regular press briefing Monday, Mills said those restrictions may be loosened. New rules are likely to be based not on whether businesses are essential, but their ability to implement new public health practices, even in a “limited, maybe nontraditional fashion.” But she did not provide details of her plan.

Some Mainers have criticized and even publicly protested the economic shutdown and home confinement. Nevertheless, Mills warned that the business reprieve could be temporary.

“At any point, if the loosening of certain restrictions causes a spike in COVID-19 cases, we will be closing the door. The restrictions will have to be reinstated and we will try again,” she said.

She also emphasized that how long Maine must comply with her Stay Healthy at Home order will be determined by objective information.

“That decision will be based on fact, on science and on medical expertise. As of now, some type of extension seems likely because it seems warranted as we continue to turn the tide against this virus,” she said.

Besides the regulatory changes, the past few days have seen other milestones in the battle against COVID-19.

On Sunday, the state Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 25 new cases of the disease, bringing the total number of cases in Maine above 1,000. By Monday afternoon, 1,023 cases had been confirmed, resulting in 51 deaths, 161 hospitalizations and 549 recoveries.

Maine’s first death due to COVID-19, of a man in his 80s from Cumberland County, was reported almost exactly one month ago, on March 27.

The United States is also at a grim milestone, with roughly 1 million cases of the disease now reported nationwide. On Tuesday morning, the exact number varied, from 957,875 according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to an estimate of 1,005,508.

Mainebiz is continuing to keep readers apprised of developments in the crisis and its impact in the state’s business life. To date, Mainebiz has reported more than 100 stories on the pandemic, conducted several related surveys of readers, and hosted two free webinars with information about economic relief for businesses affected by the crisis.

To view the ongoing Mainebiz coverage, visit our dedicated webpage.