GOOD EVENING – STARTING TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 20TH … A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES WILL HAVE TO CLOSE AT 9 P.M. A LOT OF BUSIENSSES THAT WERE AFFECTED EARLIER IN THIS PANDEMIC FALL UNDER THIS UMBRELLA – RESTAURANTS, BARS, TASTING ROOMS, MOVIE THEATERS, CASINOS, PERFORMING ARTS VENUES, CLUBS AND INDOOR áAND OTUDOOR AMUSEMENT VENUES. IN A PRESS RELEASE THE MILLS ADMINISTRATION SAID THE NEW GUIDLIENS COME AFTER AN “ALARMING INCREASE IN COVID- 19 CASES, HOSPTILIZATIONS AND POSITIVITY RATES ACROSS THE STATE. NOW THIS CURFEW SO TO SPEAK IS SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHER STATES AND CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE IMPLEMENTED… THE GOVERNORS OFFICE SAID THE INTENT IS TO LIMIT EXTENDED GATHERINGS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS AND STUDETNS ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO MAINE. AGAIN THAT CURFEW BEGINS TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 20TH… AND GOES THR
Gov. Mills implements curfew for restaurants, other Maine businesses due to COVID-19 surge
Updated: 5:50 PM EST Nov 19, 2020
Gov. Janet Mills on Thursday announced that she is imposing a curfew for many Maine businesses, including restaurants, due to the spread of COVID-19.Mills said that beginning Friday and lasting through Dec. 6, all outdoor and indoor amusement venues, movie theaters, performing arts venues, casinos, and businesses that provide seated food and drink service, including social clubs, restaurants and bars and tasting rooms currently open for outdoor service, will close for the night by 9 p.m.The governor said the limit on hours is being implemented to limit extended social gatherings as more students and family members return to Maine for the Thanksgiving holiday.Mills said her actions are similar to other measures implemented in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York.“This targeted and temporary step will reduce extended gatherings while keeping the businesses open. Other steps may be necessary in the coming weeks if we do not get this virus under control. I ask all Maine people, please wear your face covering, wash your hands, watch your distance and avoid hosting or attending gatherings with friends and loved ones unless it is absolutely necessary. Returning to normal life sometime next year first requires us to survive the holidays this year,” Mills said.The governor said her administration is working with the Maine Attorney General’s Office to provide guidance to businesses on the current public health protocols and their right to enforce them.House Republicans issued a statement critical of the governor’s announcement, saying the last minute notice hurts businesses and their employees.“Maine’s curfew is earlier than the states referenced by the Governor. This last minute, one-size-fits-all, curfew penalizes every part of Maine unnecessarily,” Assistant House Republican Leader Joel Stetkus said.
AUGUSTA, Maine —
Gov. Janet Mills on Thursday announced that she is imposing a curfew for many Maine businesses, including restaurants, due to the spread of COVID-19.
Mills said that beginning Friday and lasting through Dec. 6, all outdoor and indoor amusement venues, movie theaters, performing arts venues, casinos, and businesses that provide seated food and drink service, including social clubs, restaurants and bars and tasting rooms currently open for outdoor service, will close for the night by 9 p.m.
The governor said the limit on hours is being implemented to limit extended social gatherings as more students and family members return to Maine for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Mills said her actions are similar to other measures implemented in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York.
“This targeted and temporary step will reduce extended gatherings while keeping the businesses open. Other steps may be necessary in the coming weeks if we do not get this virus under control. I ask all Maine people, please wear your face covering, wash your hands, watch your distance and avoid hosting or attending gatherings with friends and loved ones unless it is absolutely necessary. Returning to normal life sometime next year first requires us to survive the holidays this year,” Mills said.
The governor said her administration is working with the Maine Attorney General’s Office to provide guidance to businesses on the current public health protocols and their right to enforce them.
House Republicans issued a statement critical of the governor’s announcement, saying the last minute notice hurts businesses and their employees.
“Maine’s curfew is earlier than the states referenced by the Governor. This last minute, one-size-fits-all, curfew penalizes every part of Maine unnecessarily,” Assistant House Republican Leader Joel Stetkus said.