Governor Janet T. Mills at a COVID-19 Briefing Earlier This Year.

The Mills Administration announced yesterday changes to its public health protocols effective Monday, May 24, 2021.

Those changes include lifting all capacity limits and requirements to physically distance in all public outdoor settings; and lifting all capacity limits in public indoor venues.  Physical distancing requirements are also eliminated, except in settings where people are eating or drinking and therefore would be removing their face covering – such as indoor restaurants, bars, dining areas in camps or in congregate living facilities and break rooms.

Face coverings must still be worn in public indoor settings.  The Maine Department of Health & Human Services and Maine Department of Education will separately update school-based protocols.

Previously, indoor capacity was scheduled to increase to 75% and outdoor gathering capacity had been scheduled to increase to 100% on May 24th and physical distancing was still required.  The Governor lifted the requirement to wear a face covering outdoors on April 27, 2021.

“We are making important progress, but we must keep getting shots into arms to get this pandemic fully behind us,” said Governor Mills.  “I urge all Maine people to get vaccinated so we can get back to normal as soon as possible.”