Retail businesses in 12 Maine counties may reopen, with restrictions

Image / Maine Public screen image Gov. Janet Mills, left, answers questions about Maine's Rural Reopening Plan Friday as Heather Johnson, commmissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, looks on.

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By Maureen Milliken

Stores in 12 counties may open Monday, with added health and safety measures, after Gov. Janet Mills announced a rural reopening plan.

Under the plan, fitness centers, which were originally slated to open June 1, can also reopen today in every county but Cumberland, York, Androscoggin and Penobscot. Restaurants in the 12 counties may reopen May 18.

Mills and industry experts stressed that the success of reopening is dependent on the businesses following health and safety guidelines, and customers adhering to guidelines when patronizing businesses. She stressed wearing face masks while in public places where social distancing isn't always possible, as well as social distancing itself, are required.

The announcement came the day after Mills announced that IDEXX Laboratories, in Westbrook, is providing enough COVID-19 tests to the state for it to triple testing capacity to about 5,000 a week. Extensive testing, which helps gauge the spread of the virus, is key to reopening, state and health officials have said.

“With low case counts, no evidence of community transmission, and, now, expanded testing capacity, we believe it is appropriate to gradually lift some limitations on certain businesses in our rural counties with health and safety precautions to protect public health,” Mills said Friday.

Stores and restaurants can allow indoor customers, with safety precautions, in the counties where community transmission is not present — Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington, Hancock, Somerset, Franklin, Oxford, Kennebec, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc. The four counties that are still under the original plan, which allows a phased reopening beginning June 1, are the state's most populous and home to the three biggest urban centers in the state — Portland, Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn.

The four counties that are still under the first phase of the four-part plan will be able to reopen under the same guidelines on June 1. Retailers in those counties can currently provide curbside pickup, while restaurants can continue to provide take-out and delivery services.

Retail stores opening today will have to restrict the number of customers in a store at a time, follow enhanced cleaning requirements and have touch-free transactions whenever possible. The state lays out the full requirements on its Restarting Maine's Economy webpage.

Restaurants in the 12 counties that reopen May 18 will have to physically distance customers, ensure employees follow enhanced hygiene and sanitation practices and control customer flow through reservations whenever possible. "This isn't going to be easy," Mills said. "But the industry has also weighed in, and we've respected their views and come to these accommodations."

The timeline aligns with New Hampshire's. The Granite State has 19 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people as opposed to Maine's 9.1 per 100,000. In New Hampshire, personal services, golf courses and retail, with capacity limits, are also opening today. Restaurants are opening May 18 for outdoor seating only. No date has been set for hotels to reopen.

Retailers can find COVID-19 prevention checklists on the state Department of Economic and Community Development webpage to guide them through how to safely reopen. The department collaborated with industry and public health experts to form the guidance, state officials said.

Mills said businesses aren't required to open, and a town or city can adopt additional health public health measures related to reopening, including more restrictions for businesses within their jurisdiction.

'A bittersweet taste'

Local chambers of commerce, which have been clearinghouses and support for businesses since the pandemic restrictions began, focused on the reopening plan following the announcement.

The Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, headquartered in Augusta and with members in Kennebec, Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties, sent a "virtual ribbon-cutting" greeting to congratulate members that will be able to reopen.

But at the Southern Mid-Coast Chamber, which has members in Cumberland County as well as counties that can reopen, the response was mixed.

"Having businesses in Harpswell and Brunswick not able to open, while the same businesses in many other communities in our region are able to open, makes our lives at the chamber very tricky and leaves us with a bittersweet taste," chamber officials said in an email. "We are thrilled for those that can open. Yet, our chamber will continue to work for those businesses and industries still not allowed to open based on either their geographic location or the industry they are in. It’s a step in the right direction, but it needs to be followed by other steps."

The start to a long process

Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine, said that Mills' team worked closely with the association "to allow a considerable number of retailers to safely reopen."

But he also urged retailers and the community to abide by safety measures. "In addition to helping the economy recover, the ability for people to help support their local stores will help everyone's mental well-being," PIcard said. "Make no mistake, it is imperative that retailers and customers shop safely and abide by the guidelines. Doing so will help the industry continue to open in the coming weeks.”

Picard on April 28 said a study of members showed 85% thought they could safely reopening. His blog post on the study was accompanied by a a six-page plan for reopening, including a color-coded alert system, similar to the ones used for fire danger, to signify the safety of opening.

Picard said the association worked with major retailers both in Maine and other states, reviewed plans that were developed in other states and by national trade organizations, including National Retail Federation and Retail Industry Leaders Association.

"What we’ve learned is that unlike restaurants, where ServSafe food safety handling procedures are universal regardless of the type of restaurants, retailers come in all shapes and sizes and sell different products in different ways," Picard wrote April 28.

"Certainly, there will need to be some changes for certain retailers in how they market and sell their products, but we can discern some general guidance followed by more specific guidance. Perhaps it is worth considering a retailer-specific certification process so that customers can know that a retailer is practicing the recommended protocols given the situation."

He said, "Maine will not be able to flip a switch and return to pre-pandemic normalcy. Instead, it is likely there will be stops and starts that will come in waves as the virus changes course over time. Without intervention, these disruptions will continue to do harm to Maine’s businesses, and we recognize that this is not a short-term problem, but one that will require new solutions for the long-term. Assessment, testing, tracing and mitigation will be key components."

Dana Connors, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, said the reopening is "a step in the right direction for Maine’s economy, especially small businesses in regions of the state that are not experiencing coronavirus outbreaks or community transmissions."

He said the chamber appreciates the recognition that there are regional differences when it comes to COVID-19. "Easing restrictions to speed up reopening where we can is critical to Maine’s economic recovery," he said. "Expanding Maine’s coronavirus testing capacity ... is also encouraging. We expect that will help guide where Maine can continue to ramp up reopening safely, in some cases ahead of the original reopening timeline."

He added that it's important all Mainers know that public health is the top priority for employers. "These employers are taking significant steps and implementing necessary protocols to make sure they can get back to business responsibly, and Maine people can get back to work safely, as soon as possible," he said.

Sporting camps, more on deck

In addition to retail, "remote" campsites, as well as sporting camps that provide access to wilderness activities such as canoeing, hiking, hunting or fishing, can also reopen with public health safeguards in the 12 counties on May 18, but only to Maine residents or those who have completed the 14-day quarantine required for out-of-state visitors.

There are also adjustments to the Phase 1 plan for the entire state: gyms and fitness centers can offer outdoor classes of 10 or fewer participants, while using safe distancing and other health guidelines. One-on-one personal training is also permitted.

Those businesses were originally in Phase 2, meaning they couldn't reopen until June 1.

Mills said her team continues to work with the different sectors of the state's economy, as well as public health experts, to determine the best way to reopen while ensuring health and safety. She said, in particular, they are working with the tourism and hospitality industries to develop strategies for "a safe tourism season."

Heather Johnson, commissioner of the DECD, said the plan came after working with businesses and industry associations, which provided constructive suggestions on how they can improve the safety of their work. "We look forward to that continued engagement as we examine how to reopen the economy while protecting public health," she said.

“Small businesses are the backbone of rural economies, and we are glad that expanded testing allows for additional rural businesses to more safely open while following guidelines that will help keep Mainers healthy,” Johnson said.

Maine CDC continues to monitor the epidemiological data that helps guide the reopening, state officials said. Data include things like case trends, hospitalization rates, health care readiness and capacity. The administration will also continue to evaluate standards outlined by Mills last month, including testing capacity and contact tracing.

Adjusted for population size, Maine as of Thursday ranked sixth-lowest in the nation in terms of positive cases; 36th in the nation in terms of deaths; 27th in terms of patients ever-hospitalized out of the 32 states reporting; and 10th in the percentage of people who have recovered out of the 38 states reporting that data.