November 5, 2020, Governor Janet Mills issued an executive order requiring Mainers to wear face coverings in public no matter their distance from others.
Under an executive order from July, Mainers were required to wear face coverings in public spaces only when physical distance was not easily maintained.
Additionally, owners and operators of all indoor public settings in Maine must now post plainly visible signs notifying entrants of the requirement to wear cloth face coverings and may deny service or entry for non-compliance. Previously, only certain types of businesses like large retail businesses were responsible for implementing measures requiring customers to wear face coverings.
Face coverings are required for all children age 5 and older in public settings, including school and childcare settings, and are recommended for children ages 2 to 4 unless deemed developmentally inappropriate. Exemptions continue to exist for those who have serious medical conditions or who are otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
The changes to indoor gathering limits previously announced are also listed in this Executive Order. The gathering limit on outdoor activities remains at 100 people under existing guidelines, with physical distancing and the use of face coverings. Occupancy limits for retail establishments remain at 5 people per 1,000 square feet of shopping space. For the gathering limits and updated (as of November 4) indoor food and drink service information, go to DECD’s website.