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Poll results

Retailers and restaurants in most Maine counties are now allowed to do business as (almost) usual, after Gov. Janet Mills on May 8 introduced her "rural reopening plan."

The plan modifies a previous one to let businesses, temporarily shuttered as a public health precaution, gradually resume their brick-and-mortar operations.

Under the new plan, retailers are permitted to open their stores in 12 of Maine's 16 counties. Restaurants can resume on-site dining May 18. All the businesses are required to follow new health and safety guidelines to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Stores and eateries in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Penobscot and York counties, which have experienced community spread, can reopen June 1, as originally planned.

The modified timeline comes as some states now reopening their economies see sudden new increases in COVID-19 cases.

 

 

Do you support the decision by Gov. Janet Mills to speed up the reopening of retail businesses in 12 Maine counties?
Yes (74%, 118 VOTES)
No (26%, 41 VOTES)
Poll Description

Retailers and restaurants in most Maine counties are now allowed to do business as (almost) usual, after Gov. Janet Mills on May 8 introduced her "rural reopening plan."

The plan modifies a previous one to let businesses, temporarily shuttered as a public health precaution, gradually resume their brick-and-mortar operations.

Under the new plan, retailers are permitted to open their stores in 12 of Maine's 16 counties. Restaurants can resume on-site dining May 18. All the businesses are required to follow new health and safety guidelines to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Stores and eateries in Androscoggin, Cumberland, Penobscot and York counties, which have experienced community spread, can reopen June 1, as originally planned.

The modified timeline comes as some states now reopening their economies see sudden new increases in COVID-19 cases.

 

 

  • 159 Votes
  • 7 Comments
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7 Comments

  • May 13, 2020

    Question - if the outbreak had started in Washigton or Somerset County, would all of Maine been quarantined? Would Portland restaurants and stores revolted at that suggestion? We must be cautious, but let us be real - there is way more COVID infected people in Maine than the MeCDC counts. We are not testing the entire population! One doctor reports that the positive tests are running 18% currently. Think about even 10% of our 1.3 million residents......

  • May 13, 2020

    While there are some risks to reopening, we have to find a balance so that we don't send most of our businesses into bankruptcy which will not be good for people's long-term health either.

  • Bob Kohl
    May 13, 2020

    Assuming Gov. Mills and Dr. Shah have a plan in case there is an outbreak in any of the 12 counties, I say yes, although it's hard to put the genie back in the bottle.

  • Judith Paolini
    May 13, 2020

    As tourist destinations, Maine's midcoast and downeast counties should be prepared for the spike in cases which this reopening will bring.

  • May 13, 2020

    With the additional tests from Idexx (5,000 more per week in addition to the 2,000 per week already available), the State has more than enough testing capacity to justify an even faster re-opening plan that includes all counties. The State still has less than 1,500 total cases with excess capacity at all hospitals - what are we waiting for? The death of small businesses in Maine will soon exceed COVID related deaths - has the State looked into the impact that is having on the State's population beyond simply unemployment? There are real impacts beyond the illness, including real health related issues resulting from the Governor's action.