As we move into the holiday season, please review the following information concerning out of state travel. It is critical that we work together to ensure a safe environment in all of our schools. Your cooperation is tremendously appreciated.
“Maine residents who visit an exempt state are not required to quarantine or test upon returning to Maine. However, the Maine CDC recommends either quarantine or testing when traveling to or from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey given their higher prevalence of COVID-19 than in northern New England. However, if people visit other states or nations, they are required to either quarantine for 14 days or get a negative test.”
Updated November 1 by Governor Mills:
Effective Wednesday, November 4, 2020, people traveling from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are no longer exempt from Maine’s quarantine or negative test requirement. People coming here from these states must either quarantine for 14 days or receive a negative COVID-19 test with a sample taken less than 72 hours from arrival in Maine, quarantining while awaiting test results. This protocol includes Maine residents returning from one of the non-exempt states.
Governor Mills strongly recommends that visitors from exempt states and Maine people returning from exempt states, especially during the upcoming holiday season, obtain a test in order to “Know Before You Go.” Under the Department of Health and Human Services Standing Order, any person in Maine who feels they need a test, with or without symptoms, can get a test without an order from a primary care provider.
The Mills Administration also recently announced it will distribute 400,000 rapid antigen tests, including 300,000 provided to up to 65 Walgreens pharmacy locations from Kittery to Madawaska. Testing will be available to the public at no charge as a drive-through service at a future date in November. People can find COVID-19 testing sites near them via the website https://get-tested-covid19.org/.