Portland issues stay-at-home order amid coronavirus pandemic

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Androscoggin County,Maine,United StatesItalyMaine,United StatesPortlandYorkJanet MillsNirav ShahJon Jennings

PORTLAND (WGME) -- The City of Portland issued a stay at home emergency order on Tuesday.

It goes into effect on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and it restricts all non-essential personal and business services.

The order is good for five days, and any extensions will have to be approved by the City Council, which is expected to host a remote meeting on Monday, March 30. The stay at home order is in response to the need to lessen the community spread of the global pandemic, COVID-19.

“I was propelled to take this action based on the data we have related to the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Southern Maine,” said City Manager Jon Jennings. “This was not an easy decision to make given the impacts it will further have on our economy, but my hope in doing this stay at home order now is that if we restrict as many activities as possible for a short time, then we can re-emerge from this crisis sooner. It is essential for anyone living in Cumberland or York counties to take this very seriously. We can flatten the curve in Southern Maine if we act now.”

“With 90 of 118 confirmed cases in Southern Maine, we are obligated to take additional measures to protect public health,” said Mayor Kate Snyder. “We know this is a person to person virus that requires vigilant social distancing in order to stem the spread. Portland’s early actions laid the base for today’s additional, aggressively cautious measures. The City Council is in support of the Manager’s action, and appreciative of this expansion of efforts that seeks to safeguard people, and alleviate the inevitable strain on our health care system.”

List of Maine schools, events canceled or postponed due to coronavirus concerns

All individuals currently living within the City of Portland are ordered to stay at their place of residence. People may leave their residences only to access COVID-19 Essential Services. Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempt from this requirement, but are strongly urged to obtain shelter, and be at least six feet from any other person.

The city's list of essential businesses include:

• Health care operations and pharmacies
• Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supply, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning and personal care products). This includes stores that sell groceries and also sell other non-grocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
• Food cultivation and processing, including farming, livestock, and fishing
• Businesses and organizations that provide food, shelter, medical, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy or homeless individuals, and any associated parking in a parking garage that is related to these services
• Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services
• Gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, and related facilities
• Banks and related financial institutions
• Hardware and building material stores
• Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, building cleaning and maintenance, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and essential businesses
• Businesses and organizations providing mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes
• Colleges, universities, community colleges, trade schools, and other schools exclusively for the purposes of facilitating distance learning, no in-person instruction is authorized
• Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers
• Businesses that manufacture or supply products needed for people to work from home
• Businesses that manufacture or supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate
• Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences
• Airlines, taxis, public transportation, marine transport, and any other transportation providers providing transportation services necessary for purposes expressly authorized in this Proclamation
• Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children
• Residential facilities, housing authorities, and homeless and other shelters for seniors, adults, and children
• Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities
• Childcare facilities providing services that enable employees of Essential Services as defined herein to work as permitted. To the extent possible, childcare facilities are recommended to operate under the following conditions: Childcare should be carried out in stable groups of 10 or fewer (“stable” means that the same 10 or fewer children are in the same group each day); Children should not change from one group to another; If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group should be in a separate room. Groups should not mix with each other; and Childcare providers should remain solely with one group of children
• Medical marijuana facilities
• Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
• Animal shelters, veterinary clinics, animal feed and pet supply stores
• The State or Federal Judicial Branch
• Government facilities, agencies, and services needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government and provide for the public health, safety and welfare, including but not limited to police, fire, EMS, code enforcement, and trash collection
• Businesses and organizations providing for the construction and maintenance of essential infrastructure, including utilities such as electricity, water, wastewater, and telecommunications
• Industrial manufacturing facilities
• Construction businesses; only existing or ongoing construction projects conducted by these businesses may continue so as long as, to the maximum extent possible, all persons must be at least six (6) feet from any other person
• Insurance businesses
• Security companies
• Hotels and other places of accommodation, except to the extent that said hotels and places of accommodation include bars, restaurants, meeting facilities, and other facilities required to be closed by City or State emergency proclamation or executive order.

Jennings said two employees in the general assistance office tested positive for coronavirus. Two additional police officers have also tested positive.

“We will still pickup whatever’s left on curb,” Jennings says of short-term leeway on garbage pickup, noting city bags are preferred, but any bag will be picked up.

Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday ordered all non-essential Maine businesses and operations to close.

Gov. Mills mandated that all non-essential businesses and operations in Maine close their physical locations that are public facing, meaning those that allow customer, vendor or other in-person contact. The order also closes non-essential business sites that require more than 10 workers to convene in a space where physical distancing is not possible.

Non-essential businesses and operations may continue activities that do not involve these types of in-person contact and convenings and should facilitate the maximum number of employees working remotely. The order goes into effect at midnight and lasts until April 8.

Non-essential businesses and operations subject to the governor’s Executive Order include, but are not limited to, shopping malls, fitness and exercise gyms, spas, barber shops, hair salons, tattoo and piercing parlors, massage facilities, nail technicians, cosmetologists and estheticians, electrolysis services, laser hair removal services, and similar personal care and treatment facilities and services.

The Executive Order excludes businesses that provide essential services including, but not limited to: food processing, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, construction, trash collection, grocery and household goods (including convenience stores), home repair and hardware and auto repair, pharmacy and other medical facilities, biomedical, behavioral health and health care providers, child care, post offices and shipping outlets, insurance, banks, gas stations, laundromats, veterinary clinics and animal feed and supply stores, shipping stores, public transportation, and hotel and commercial lodging.

There are 118 cases of the coronavirus in the state as of Tuesday. That’s up from 107 cases on Monday.

Over 115 coronavirus cases reported in Maine

Fifteen people3,014 negative tests

Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah is stressing social distancing. “Live your life as if COVID-19 is already in your community," Dr. Shah said. “What you do today will determine the health of your community tomorrow."

Ten out of the 16 counties in Maine have cases. Cumberland County has the most.

Maine recorded its first case of COVID-19 on March 12. That individual, a woman in her 50s from Androscoggin County, is a U.S. Navy Reservist and recently traveled to Italy.

COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, for most people. However, for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The Maine CDC stresses that if you have symptoms of coronavirus to call your doctor before showing up so that they can plan accordingly.

The Maine CDC and 211 Maine have launched a new option for Mainers 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 CDC is offering these steps to protect yourself:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.
• Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office.
• If you are not sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick. Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

CLICK HERE for more information about coronavirus from the Maine CDC.

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