Newsroom

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement in response to the President’s visit to Maine:

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement today ahead of the President’s scheduled visit tomorrow:

“I am proud of the extraordinary Maine companies, like Puritan Medical Products, who have adapted to meet the unprecedented challenges of this pandemic and whose work is saving lives. They are worthy of our praise and to them I am grateful.

Department of Economic and Community Development posts additional COVID-19 Prevention Checklists and continues its work on a proposed plan for the tourism season

Governor Janet Mills and MaineHousing announced today an extension of the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program. The rental assistance program, established in April, allows households that meet certain income and ability to pay requirements to receive a one-time, up to $500 payment in rental assistance to be paid directly to their landlord. With the extension, the program now covers rent for the months of April, May or June. 

Governor Janet Mills today mourned the loss of Alain Nahimana, the founder and Executive Director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center:

Infrastructure grants will bring universal service to the towns of Argyle, Bremen and Hudson. Planning grants awarded to Litchfield, East Grand Lake Region, Swans Island, and Sanford

Governor Janet Mills has directed the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) to offer to purchase perishable and non-perishable food from restaurants in York, Cumberland and Androscoggin counties that are unable to open to indoor dining as a result of measures to protect public health and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Governor Janet Mills and Attorney General Aaron Frey issued the following statements today in response to the U.S. Department of Justice seeking to undermine the health and safety of Maine people:

Governor Janet Mills today released a letter she sent last Friday to the Legislature’s Presiding Officers in response to their request for a “Re-Opening Task Force”. The complete text of the letter is below.

Governor Janet Mills today signed an Executive Order that allows for the gradual easing of restrictions implemented under previous Executive Orders as the state continues to reopen under the Restarting Maine’s Economy plan. As of today, Maine has reopened its economy on par with or to a greater extent than most other New England states.

Affirmation of Maine’s credit ratings come as other states see downgrades related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Administration restricts reopening of restaurants in Androscoggin, Cumberland and York Counties to outside service only

Governor Janet Mills today announced an update to her Administration’s plan to restart Maine’s economy as the state approaches the scheduled June 1 start date for Stage 2 of the plan.

DHHS is enlisting volunteers, hiring more personnel, and deploying new technology to expand contact tracing in Maine

Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is significantly expanding contact tracing by increasing the number of skilled staff and volunteers, harnessing innovative technology, and securing social services to help people with COVID-19 maintain self-isolation.

The $52.7 million grant, previously announced by Maine’s Congressional Delegation, has been received and will help expand State and rural hospital lab capacity and testing sites across Maine in the coming weeks and months

Maine people can enjoy campgrounds this Memorial Day Weekend; State delays full reopening of gyms, fitness centers, and nail salons

The Mills Administration announced today the following updates to its plan to restart Maine’s economy: 1) Maine residents may enjoy campgrounds beginning Memorial Day weekend; and 2) the Administration is delaying the full reopening of gyms, fitness centers, and nail salons in light of emerging research and experiences in other states of COVID-19 transmission related to these establishments.

To further protect the health and safety of essential employees in Maine, including members of the media, the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is providing 1900 cloth face coverings to the Maine Association of Broadcasters (MAB) for distribution to the state's broadcast media outlets.

Today, Governor Janet Mills and U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and U.S. Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden convened a Zoom conference call to discuss the State’s response to COVID-19 and the Congressional Delegation’s work in Congress to support the State’s efforts.

Expanded testing resulting from IDEXX agreement is now operational, allowing Maine health care providers to test more people beginning today

Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has eliminated its testing prioritization system and is now allowing health care providers in Maine to seek testing for anyone they suspect of having COVID-19.

Governor Janet Mills and Maine Education Commissioner Pender Makin announced today that the Maine Department of Education has secured internet access and devices to facilitate at home learning for 100 percent of Maine school children for whom there was a reported need. The success comes as Maine educators have demonstrated extraordinary commitment and creativity in response to the suspension of classroom-based instruction as a result of COVID-19, providing invaluable and meaningful personal connection and assurance to students in a time of great uncertainty.

Department of Economic and Community Development also posts additional COVID-19 Prevention Checklists to help businesses prepare for Stage 2 & FAQs to answer common questions

The Mills Administration announced that, effective immediately, Maine lodging providers can begin accepting future reservations for stays with an arrival date of June 1st and beyond for Maine residents and for non-residents who comply with the State’s 14-day quarantine requirement.

As the State continues to respond to COVID-19, Governor Janet Mills today signed a proclamation extending Maine’s state of civil emergency for thirty days through June 11, 2020. This will be Governor Mills’ second extension of the State of Civil Emergency.

Those who have lost a job or income can visit CoverME.gov to learn more and apply

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) today launched a statewide campaign to promote awareness of affordable health insurance options, particularly for people whose employment or income has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plan will allow for reopening of certain businesses in rural Maine with safety precautions, timeline aligns with neighboring New Hampshire

State of Maine partners with IDEXX to more than triple its testing capacity

Governor Janet Mills announced today that her Administration has secured a major expansion of COVID-19 testing for the State of Maine. The Administration has partnered with Maine-based IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. to purchase enough of the company’s recently authorized COVID-19 testing kits to more than triple the State’s testing capacity. The breakthrough will soon allow anyone in Maine suspected of having COVID-19 to receive a test.

Business leaders, education officials, non-profits, labor and tribal representatives, economic development experts, and elected officials to shape economic recovery

Governor Janet Mills announced today that she is convening an Economic Recovery Committee charged with developing recommendations to mitigate the damage to Maine’s economy caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to jumpstart a long-term economic recovery for Maine people, businesses, and organizations.