Maine rolls out new COVID-19 restrictions, the College responds
This past Sunday, the Office of the Governor Janet Mills rolled out more preventative measures in response to the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases both within the state of Maine and nationwide.
According to the press release, Maine recorded 103 new cases on Friday Oct. 30, the highest single-day increase since the pandemic began. Maine’s 7-day positivity rate also doubled over the past two weeks to 0.92 percent. The United States passed nine million total COVID-19 cases and 230,000 deaths this weekend.
“If we don’t control this outbreak, we may never get this evil genie back in the bottle,” Mills said in the Sunday press release.
The Mills Administration announced that they will extend the “Keep Maine Healthy” program into December. The “Keep Maine Healthy” plan, unveiled in June, relies on three cornerstones: requiring visitors to obtain a recent negative COVID-19 test to stay in lodgings as an alternative to the traditional 2-week quarantine, increasing symptom-checks at popular tourist locations, and supporting community-based prevention and awareness of COVID-19 safety.
Mills has already allotted $13 million to the “Keep Maine Healthy” program from the Federal CARES Act, a $2 trillion dollar COVID-19 relief package passed in late March. That money went to 132 municipalities and two tribal governments to fund community prevention efforts, including developing local education consistent with CDC guidelines, installing fences and signage to encourage social distancing, purchasing hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment, and supporting the purchase of extra cleaning supplies and added staff time for enhanced cleaning.
The Mills Administration is also reducing the indoor gathering limits to 50 people effective Nov. 4. Previously, indoor gatherings had been limited to whichever was less between 50 percent of permitted capacity or 100 people. The limit on outdoor gatherings remains at 100 people and the limit for retail establishments at 5 people per 1,000 square feet.
Mills also announced that the previously anticipated reopening of bars and tasting rooms to indoor seated service on Nov. 2 would be delayed, a decision she said she was “deeply sorry” for.
“We realize that this decision will cause hardship,” Mills said. “We do not take this action lightly, but the rapid rise in cases in just the past six days means that we cannot in good conscience proceed with the planned reopening.”
The states exempt from Maine’s quarantine or testing alternative have also changed. As of Nov. 4, people traveling from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are no longer exempt and must either produce a recent negative COVID-19 test upon entry or quarantine for 14 days. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts remain exempt.
Soon after Maine’s new COVID-19 restrictions were announced, the College responded as well. On Nov. 2, Dean of the College Karlene Burrell-McRae sent an email notifying the student body that the administration decided to switch the Health Code Level– which was previously green and had been since the start of the semester– to yellow.
“To keep our community safe through what the Maine CDC has called a surge in Maine, we are writing to ask for your increased vigilance,” Burrell-McRae wrote. “While there will be few noticeable changes in daily operations, this is an important moment to recommit to the health and safety of our community.”
According to the College’s COVID-19 dashboard, the move to yellow does indeed bring with it some noticeable changes. Classes of 50 or more students will move to remote instruction if they have not already, seating capacities in the dining halls will be lowered, cleaning measures will be increased, and religious gatherings of over 50 must be conducted outside or in larger venues with face coverings and social distancing.
The College’s own COVID-19 numbers have remained stable, with only 15 positive cases since the school year began and only 1 positive case currently in isolation. The last positive case was a faculty member on Oct. 29. Kennebec County currently has 91 positive cases. In her email, Burrell-McRae asked Colby students to keep it this way and continue to practice COVID-19 safety.
“Please continue to complete the CoVerified symptom tracker every morning, fully participate in the testing program, wear cloth face coverings, abide by distancing guidelines, and practice good hygiene,” Burrell-McRae wrote. “We are all in this together and want to be sure we are able to complete the final few weeks of the semester on campus and learning in person.”
~ Sarah Warner `21
