What Maine’s “Stay Healthy at Home” Order Means for You
Governor Mills issued a “Stay Healthy at Home” order on March 31, 2020, which will last until at least April 30, 2020. The goal of this order is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in communities across the state of Maine.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of things you can and can’t do under the order, things you should do every time you leave your house, guidelines about whether you are at risk of being arrested or fined, and sample language you can use if you are following these guidelines and someone asks you why you’re out of the house.
You can leave your house to...
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| Walk or play outside for exercise, alone or with people who live in your household. | Buy groceries, cleaning supplies, or other essential goods. | Pick up medication and access medical / behavioral care. |
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| Pick up school meals or technology needed for remote learning. | Care for family or friends who live outside of your household. | Do your laundry. |
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| Care for animals or livestock. | Deposit or pick up money. | Pick up take-out from a restaurant. |
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| Go to work if you are an employee of an essential business. | Ride public transportation in order to do any of the activities listed above, if it is your primary means of transportation. |
But you can't...
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Come closer than 6 feet to others, unless they live in your household, while doing any of these activities. |
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Transport people who don’t live in your household in your personal vehicle. |
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Eat in-person at a restaurant or bar. |
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Go to work if you are not an employee of an essential business. Your employer will let you know if your business has been deemed essential. |
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Ride public transportation if you have alternative means of transportation or if you are not doing one of the activities listed to the left. |
Every time you leave your house, remember to...
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| Send only one person from your household if you can! This minimizes your risk of getting sick. | Wear gloves if you have them. Touch as few surfaces as possible. | Avoid touching your face. |
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| Stay 6 feet away from anyone who doesn’t live in your household. | Wash your hands for 20 seconds when you get home. |
Will I be arrested or fined for leaving my house?
As long as you are doing one of the essential activities listed above, and you are not coming within 6 feet of anyone who doesn’t live in your household, you will not be arrested or fined.
What should I say if someone asks me why I’m out of the house?
If you’re walking or playing outside for exercise, alone or with people who live in your household:
If you’re with people who live in your household: “I am walking with other people who live in my household for exercise.”
If you’re alone: “I am walking alone for exercise and am keeping a 6-foot social distance from others.”
If you’re on your way to an essential business (grocery store, restaurant offering takeout, pharmacy, etc):
If you’re with people who live in your household: “I am on my way to (buy groceries, do laundry, pick up medication, go to the doctor, pick up food, etc), which is an essential activity. Everyone who is with me lives in my household.”
If you’re alone: “I am on my way to (buy groceries, do laundry, pick up medication, go to the doctor, pick up food, etc), which is an essential activity.”
If you’re going to work for an essential business:
“I am going to work because my employer is an essential business.”
If you’re on public transportation to do an essential activity and it is your primary means of transportation:
“I am riding public transportation because it is my only means of transportation. I am on my way to (buy groceries, withdraw money at the bank, pick up medication, etc), which is an essential activity.”