The COVID-19 pandemic was publicly reported to have reached the U.S. state of Maine on March 12, 2020. As of February 2, 2021, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services reported 131,530 confirmed cases and 46,971 probable cases in the state, with 1,777 deaths attributed to the virus.
As of February 2, 2021, it was reported that Maine has administered 2,492,316 COVID-19 vaccine doses, and has fully vaccinated 977,759 people, equivalent to 76.35% of the population.
Timeline
On March 12, Maine announced the state's first confirmed case of the coronavirus, a Navy reservist in her 50s from Androscoggin County who had returned from duty in Italy. On March 27, 2020, Maine reported its first death due to coronavirus, which was a man in his 80s from Cumberland County. On April 29, 8 employees working at a local Tyson Foods meat packaging plant in Portland, Maine tested positive for COVID-19 prompting talks about halting the plant's production. On the same day, 20 cases were confirmed at the Penobscot Hope House Health and Living Center in Bangor, Maine which houses a homeless shelter.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the state's second-largest outbreak occurred after a wedding reception on August 7, 2020. Sixty-five people attended a reception in Millinocket at a hall that had capacity for 50 people. About half the 53 cases were found in wedding guests, and one woman, who was not a guest, died on August 22. It is unclear if guests wore masks. By September 5, the outbreak had infected 177 people and caused seven deaths, including 80 cases at a prison 230 mi (370 km) away. A lawyer for the officiant at the wedding said the Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford was encouraging its congregants to not wear masks, and the church's school, Sanford Christian Academy, does not require face coverings.
On October 22, 2020, 46 COVID-19 cases were linked to a fellowship rally between October 2 and October 4 at the Brooks Pentecostal Church.
After his death on December 11, 2021, at 62, the Sun Journal reported 2020 U.S. Senate candidate Max Linn may have been the first person in Maine with COVID-19 after he returned from a business trip to Wuhan, China in late December 2019.
Government response
March, 2020
On March 2, 2020, Governor Janet Mills convened a coronavirus response team, led by Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, to coordinate state efforts against the virus. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention began its response efforts in December 2019 when the virus was first reported in Wuhan, China.
After the first case was reported on March 12, 2020, Governor Janet Mills declared a health insurance emergency to insure private insurance coverage of coronavirus testing, recommended postponing gatherings of more than 250 people for at least 30 days, and suspended all non-essential out-of-state travel by state employees for 30 days.
On March 15, 2020, Governor Janet Mills declared a civil state of emergency which allows the governor to establish emergency reserves of products, allows the state to access federal funding to combat the outbreak, and allows for suspension of certain laws. Governor Mills recommended halting classroom instruction in Maine and stopping all gatherings of more than 50 people, or more than 10 people if senior citizens were involved in the gathering. She also recommended postponing non-urgent medical procedures, doctors appointments, and elective surgeries, and restricting visitors to long-term healthcare facilities.
On March 16, 2020, Maine was one of the first states to have its application for the United States Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan approved, which would help businesses in Maine recover financial losses due to coronavirus closures. On March 16, Governor Mills also called for all Saint Patrick's Day events to be cancelled throughout the state. The Maine Legislature also enacted a supplemental budget of $73 million which focused on coronavirus response, including $1 million to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, $15 million to increase MaineCare reimbursement rates for health care providers, and $38 million to K-12 education to help in the wake of school closures.
On March 17, 2020, Governor Mills issued a Declaration of Abnormal Market Disruption, which prohibits specific essential items from being sold at unconscionable prices, including paper products, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, and medical supplies. Governor Mills also announced an emergency measures package which was approved by the legislature to provide $11 million in state funding for COVID-19 response, expand State and local authorities to allow greater flexibility in virus response, and to provide additional support to impacted workers.
On March 18, 2020, Governor Mills issued an executive order which mandated all bars and restaurants close to dine-in customers, but allowed take-out, delivery, and drive-through to continue. All gatherings of 10 or more people were prohibited, and non-essential businesses such as gyms, hair-salons, casinos, and malls were urged to close to minimize gatherings in public.
On March 19, 2020, Governor Mills wrote a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar to request for more personal protective equipment be released to the state of Maine from the Strategic National Stockpile. She also convened a conference call with Senator Susan Collins, Senator Angus King, Representative Chellie Pingree, and Representative Jared Golden to discuss the State response to the pandemic. Additionally, Governor Mills signed an executive order to require school districts to continue paying hourly employees for the duration of the school year.
On March 19, the City of Bangor announced that the Community Connector bus service would begin only allowing people to enter from the rear of the bus to encourage social distancing beginning on March 20. Passengers using walkers and wheelchairs were allowed to board from the front of the bus. As more social distancing practices were put into effect, the City of Bangor began using an honor system for the bus service and asked that passengers not occupy the seats directly behind the driver.
On March 20, 2020, Governor Mills opened waters to inland fishing and suspended license requirements until April 30 to encourage individuals to go outside during the pandemic. She wrote a letter to President Donald Trump to request financial assistance, subsidies, operating loans, or other measures to support the seafood industry, fishermen, and aquaculture. She also issued an executive order which would allow licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurses who were licensed in another state to be issued an emergency Maine license valid through the declared state of emergency.
On March 23, 2020, Governor Mills passed an executive order that extended expiration dates and waived fees for driver's licenses and other related motor vehicle licenses until 30 days past the state of emergency.
On March 24, 2020, Governor Mills ordered all non-essential businesses to close their physical locations and cease in-person contact and urged all essential businesses to limit the number of individuals in stores at any given time.
On March 24, the City of Portland announced that the manager has signed a stay-at-home order beginning on March 25 for all non-essential businesses and services in Portland, with a potential end date on April 27. On March 26, the City of South Portland also announced a similar order beginning March 27 except for permitted activities.
On March 25, 2020, Governor Mills signed an executive order which enhanced the health care workforce and telehealth efforts by allowing physicians, physicians assistants, and nurses to obtain relevant licenses to deliver health services remotely and have those remote services be covered by insurance companies.
On March 26, 2020, Governor Mills extended the deadline for state income tax payments from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Additionally, ten state parks were closed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry's Bureau of Parks and Lands on March 26, including Reid State Park, Popham Beach State Park, Fort Popham, Fort Baldwin, Kettle Cove State Park, Two Lights State Park, Crescent Beach State Park, Scarborough Beach State Park, Ferry Beach State Park, and Mackworth Island. Nursing homes were also now able to request funds to help respond to the pandemic within their facilities.
On March 30, Maine Governor Janet Mills issued "a Stay Healthy at Home directive that requires people living in Maine to stay at home at all times unless for an essential job or an essential personal reason, such as obtaining food, medicine, health care, or other necessary purposes."
April, 2020
On April 3, Governor Mills enacted an executive order which mandated travelers arriving in Maine to self-quarantine for 14 days. Under this order, travelers were required to quarantine upon arrival regardless of their state of residency. This order also suspended hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals, RV parks, campgrounds, and all public and private camping facilities. Violations of the order could be subject to a penalty of six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.
On April 4, Governor Mills announced that her request for a major disaster declaration was approved by President Donald Trump. This declaration allows for state agencies and municipalities in Maine to be reimbursed for 75% of approved costs related to pandemic response.
On April 7, Governor Mills issued an executive order that expanded healthcare access to Maine residents. This order allowed all health care providers that were licensed under the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation, including social workers and physical therapists, to provide services via telemedicine. This order also extended license expiration and renewal dates.
On April 10, Gov. Mills rescheduled Maine's congressional and legislative primary elections from June 9, 2020, to July 14. Mills' executive order also expanded the ability to request absentee ballots, which may now be done up to and on election day.
On April 15, Gov. Mills extended Maine's state of civil emergency through May 15, 2020.
On April 16, Gov. Mills signed an executive order which prevented the immediate eviction of residents during the state of emergency, and also announced a partnership with MaineHousing to provide rental assistance. The rent relief program began with $5 million and allowed households to receive a one-time, up to $500 payment in assistance to their landlord.
On April 21, Gov. Mills's administration began a new volunteer phone support service for health care workers and first responders called the FrontLine WarmLine. This service is a collaborative effort between the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, the Maine Department of Public Safety's Emergency Medical Services, the Maine Association of Psychiatric Physicians, The Opportunity Alliance, The Maine Psychological Association, and the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. This service provides assistance to all who are responding to the pandemic in Maine and helps responders manage stress associated with their jobs. Volunteer professionals who answer the support line include licensed psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and nurse practitioners.
On April 22, Gov. Mills and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew announced that approximately $11 million would support child care access for essential workers and offer relief for child care providers. This money was granted under the CARES Act.
On April 28, Gov. Mills announced a plan to gradually restart Maine's economy. The plan had four stages, with stage one slated to begin on May 1. Later stages discussed revisiting limitations on gatherings, stay-at-home orders, and reservations and capacity limits for restaurants, gyms, retail stores, and campgrounds.