Portland, Maine Announces New 'Stay at Home' Restrictions

      At 3PM today, the Mayor and Manager held a press conference on some additional restrictions for the City of Portland.  The highlights are as follows:

  1. New Restrictions. The Mayor and Manager presented a new "stay at home order" that goes into effect at 5PM on Wednesday March 25th and applies to both residents and businesses (non-essential only). This order is good for 5 days and any continuation must be approved by the Council at our March 30th Virtual meeting (see below).
    The order reads, in part, as follows (Please check the City of Portland website for the entire order if you have other questions): 
    (i) STAY AT HOME. All individuals currently living within the City of Portland are ordered to stay at their place of residence. To the extent individuals are using shared or outdoor spaces, they must at all times as reasonably possible maintain social distancing of at least six (6) feet from any other person with whom they don’t share a household when they are outside their residence. All persons may leave their residences only to access COVID-19 Essential Services or as otherwise expressly provided herein. Individuals experiencing homelessness are exempt from this requirement, but are strongly urged to obtain shelter, and be at least six
    (6) feet from any other person, to the maximum extent practicable and possible.
    (ii) TRAVEL. All travel including, but not limited to, travel on foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, golf carts, automobile, or public transit, for COVID-19 Essential Services is permitted. Outdoor exercise and/or dog walking is also specifically permitted. All individuals are encouraged to not use or congregate on City playgrounds, and it is recommend that all individuals should seek, to the maximum extent possible, to be at least six (6) feet from any other person with whom they do not share a household with when engaged in any travel or exercise activities on City streets, trails, grounds, fields, tennis or basketball courts or other outdoor areas.
    (iii) NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES. All businesses with a facility in the City of Portland that do not provide COVID-19 Essential Services, shall close their physical workspaces and facilities (“brick-and-mortar premises”) to workers, customers, and the public as of the
    effective date and time of this proclamation. Businesses that do not provide COVID-19 Essential Services are encouraged to continue operations through remote means that do not require workers, customers, or the public to enter or appear at the brick-and-mortar premises closed pursuant to this proclamation. With that said, such non-essential businesses may continue to access their brick-and-mortar premises in order to conduct essential business functions
    including, but not limited to, processing mail, depositing checks, completing payroll and paying vendors; as long as social distancing requirements are being implemented, and the fewest number of employees possible are on premises when conducting such services. Churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship shall not be required to close their brick-and-mortar premises to employees or to the public; provided, however, that such institutions shall be required to comply with all limitations on gatherings established by Governor
    Janet T. Mills’ March 15, 2020 executive order.
    (iv) VIOLATIONS. Violation of or failure to comply with this Order is punishable by a fine of $500.00 per occurrence plus the costs of prosecution.
     
  2. Virtual City Council Meeting/ Workshop.  The City Council will hold a virtual City Council meeting/workshop at  5PM on Monday, March 30th.  Please check the City's website to find out how you can participate. 
I also want to remind you about the following:
  1. Parking. Street parking enforcement is limited to illegal parking (i.e. blocking a fire hydrant, parking an a handicapped space, or parking in an non-designated space) only.  The City is not enforcing parking meters or street maintenance parking regulations.
  2. Supporting Local Businesses.  We want every resident to be safe, but we know our neighboring small business owners are hurting.  If you can do so safely, consider ordering take-out (call ahead first). 
  3. Assistance. We are all neighbors and if you know someone who needs assistance, whether it be groceries or otherwise, please let me know. 

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