Gov. Janet Mills today, April 27, updated Maine’s public health guidance on use of face coverings in outdoor public settings.
The state is removing the requirement that people wear face coverings in outdoor settings, following along with CDC recommendations. However, the recommendation is that people wear face coverings in outdoor settings where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing.
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Face coverings are still required for indoor public settings, and there are no changes to Maine’s physical distancing requirements at this time.
From Maine.gov:
We are updating Maine’s public health guidance to reflect the U.S. CDC’s latest recommendations that indicate the risk of transmitting COVID-19 while outdoors is low, especially as more people get vaccinated,” said Governor Janet Mills. “With the summer months nearly upon us, this offers a great opportunity for people to get outside and safely enjoy all that Maine has to offer. I applaud all the work Maine people have put in to protect themselves and others and continue to encourage them to get vaccinated and wear a mask when inside or when around others so that we can get this pandemic fully behind us.
Maine CDC Director Nirav D. Shah says that, “Scientific studies continue to show that outdoor activities are much safer than indoor ones,” “As more Maine people become vaccinated against COVID-19, outdoor activities become that much safer.”
The change is effective immediately and relevant guidance documents will be updated in the coming days.
