Courtesy /University of Maine System
University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy
Updated: March 28, 2022
Portland, UMaine System update COVID safety protocols
Photo / Renee Cordes
Some events at Merrill Auditorium, including this week's performance by the Beach Boys, will require additional health and safety protocols such as proof of vaccination and masking, according to the city of Portland.
Beginning April 1, Portland will no longer require attendees at indoor public events to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test for the disease. But there are some exceptions, and while face masks are no longer mandatory, the city is recommending their use.
The new measures, announced Friday, reflect a general trend of scaling back health and safety protocols amid low COVID-19 community transmission rates in 15 of 16 Maine counties, as federal data showed last week. Hancock County, classified as high, is the exception.
Portland's new rules cover events at indoor venues, including Merrill Auditorium, the James A. Banks Sr. Portland Exposition Building and Ocean Gateway.
Masking is also no longer required, but still recommended for those who may be at high risk. Those who wish to keep wearing a mask at city venues are welcome to do so.
But the city also noted that it remains in a transition period for some performances, with some events requiring additional protocols depending on requests from the artist, event organizer, promoter or league.
Precautions including vaccination or masking will, for example, be mandatory for the April 1 Beach Boys concert at Merrill Auditorium, as well as for all Portland Symphony Orchestra and Portland Ovations performances.
Officials underscored that the safety of all guests, staff, performers, athletes, vendors and volunteers remains the top priority, pledging to review and update guidelines as needed.
UMaine System
Similarly, the University of Maine System on Saturday made face coverings optional for students, faculty, staff and visitors in its non-classroom facilities on campuses and in UMS facilities statewide, both indoors and outdoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Face coverings continue to be required in all classrooms, research spaces and instructional areas unless the requirement is waived by a faculty member. UMS also will require face coverings for public events in its facilities for 75 or more individuals, unless proof of vaccination or a negative test result is required.
All UMaine System event organizers have the option to require face coverings.
“I applaud our students and employees for helping make this change possible through their dedication to public health and community well-being,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. “As we have throughout the pandemic, we will continue to monitor the status of COVID-19, including the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2 subvariant."
Malloy added that while the system will consider returning to face coverings if pandemic conditions worsen, "at present, we feel confident that we can be together in-person in more of our settings without face coverings so long as we continue testing and stay up-to-date on our vaccinations and boosters.”
University of Maine System students have achieved a more than 96% fully vaccinated rate for COVID-19 and most students also have reported they are up-to-date with their vaccinations. These face covering changes also result from recent face covering guidance from the CDC and improving pandemic conditions.
The UMaine System has been monitoring COVID-19 at the university- and county-specific levels through case reports, regular individual testing and wastewater testing. Currently across the system, there is a 1% COVID-19 positivity rate in tests conducted after spring break that ended on March 20.
That's lower than the rate pre-spring break despite the travel and gatherings associated with the vacation period.
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