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Let me tell you a bit about #COVID19 in #Maine. First, you may think of Maine as a rural state, and largely it is, but not entirely. We have a good-size city with an international airport in #Portland, and the southern tip (where I live) is considered part of greater #Boston 1/
Seriously, lots of people in town commute home and back daily. So.... not the sticks. Our #COVID19 case count is still considered "falling". Currently, businesses strictly regulate how many customers can be inside at any one time (number varies w/ business size). 2/
There is literally a person with a counter sitting outside every door keeping track. You wait in line outside until it is your turn if they are at capacity. There is colored or reflective tape at six foot intervals to facilitate safely waiting in line. The same is true inside. 3/
Tape markings everywhere - at checkouts, at deli counters, in the produce section. Another thing: #masks. Everyone must wear one. EVERYONE. In the grocery store yesterday there was not a single unmasked person. ~half were also wearing gloves. A good # had face shields too 4/
Restaurants..... we had take-out only for several #COVID19 months. Beginning in late May, some restaurants could open outdoor seating, with tables at 6-foot intervals. By early June, some could have limited-cap indoor dining. BASED ON CASE NUMBERS, 3 counties were excluded 5/
This included York and Cumberland counties ( #Portland and #Boston's fingertip). This was not popular. @GovJanetMills did it anyway, because it was the right thing to do. Our cases are still falling, even as other states' #COVID19 numbers rise. Summer camps are closed. 6/
This also is not particularly popular...... but the right thing to do. In a state that depend on summer tourism, we have a 14-day mandatory #quarantine until (at least) July 1. This is also not popular. It is the right thing to do. Our #COVID19 cases are falling. 7/
This is what leadership looks like. Doing what is right, not what is easy. Doing what is best to solve the problem, even when it is unpopular. This is political courage, exemplified by @GovJanetMills. Our #COVID19 cases in #Maine are falling, even as other states' rise. 8/
Have I mentioned our cases are falling? These interventions are not easy. They are, however, necessary. But we're Mainers. We do what must be done, without complaining, to solve the problem. That's #COVID19 in #Maine. Feel free to follow our model - it is working.
PS-Somehow I forgot to mention that #Maine also dramatically expanded #testing and #ContactTracing capacity ASAP by partnering with @IDEXX and by expanding personnel. The impact this had was very nicely demonstrated in a @PressHerald piece by @joelawlorph https://www.pressherald.com/2020/06/17/quick-action-at-cape-memory-care-limited-covid-19-cases-in-community/
PS2- In addition to @GovJanetMills, much credit goes to @nirav_mainecdc and folks like @doraannemills for their communications and thoughtful leadership.
