COVID-19 MAINE RESOURCES and LINKS

We will update and add to this list of mostly MAINE STATE-specific resources and CDC links as we receive information.

Please be sure you access and read the most up-to-date links, refer to these to find answers to questions about safety, financial options and assistance, online trainings and network opportunities, and more.

Please check the Maine.gov website for up-to-date information about specific areas, regulations about  who, when, where, and how to prepare for a return to work in Maine.

PLEASE refer to the Preparing to Return to work for the latest links, updates, cautionary guidelines and many answers to questions.

OSHA guidelines: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

Newsroom link on Maine.gov: daily updates: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/newsroom

Maine.gov: Executive Orders: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/official_documents

Maine State UPDATE from Gov Janet Mills AS OF 27 April:

https://www.maine.gov/covid19/

This link has travel, vaccine, mask-wearing, testing, Covid-19 prevention, how to gather safely, and other updates for Maine. 

Latest News

 

• On March 5, Governor Mills issued an executive order with amended indoor capacity limits. Massage therapy businesses may operate at 50% of permitted occupancy, 5 people per 1,000 sq. ft., or 50 people (whichever is greatest), until May 23. Starting May 24, permitted occupancy increases to 75% (see section A, page 2).
• Massage therapists should continue to follow guidelines for spas and close contact personal services (updated in March).
• For additional information and updates, we encourage you to visit the Maine COVID-19 page. And, to view the history of updates related to massage and COVID-19 in your state, you can visit AMTA’s page.

20 March 2021:

link and article

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEHHS/bulletins/2c820d1

 

Governor Mills Announces Acceleration of Maine’s COVID-19 Vaccination Timeline March 19, 2021 Governor Janet Mills announced today that Maine is accelerating the timeline of its vaccination plan to make more people eligible for COVID-19 vaccines earlier. Beginning Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Maine residents age 50 and older will be eligible for the vaccination. Beginning Monday, April 19, 2021, all Maine residents age 16 and older will eligible for vaccination. The accelerated timeline comes as some Maine vaccine providers are reporting availability of appointments and as Maine anticipates an increase in vaccine supply from the Federal government. “Maine has been working around the clock to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible. As we continue to make progress, and with more appointments becoming available and an increase in supply expected in the coming weeks, we believe it is appropriate to accelerate our timeline and make more people eligible earlier,” said Governor Janet Mills. “While this is certainly welcome news, Maine people should keep in mind that, even though they may be eligible, it still may take time to get an appointment and get shots into arms. We will continue to work with vaccine providers across Maine to expand our ability to deliver shots, and we are pleased that we are able to take this important step forward.” “With nearly two out of every three Maine residents age 60 and older now protected with at least one dose of vaccine, we’re prepared to open up appointments to even more Maine people,” said Jeanne Lambrew, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. “As more vaccine becomes available in the coming days and weeks, we’ll continue to work with our valued partners throughout the state to match eligible Maine people, particularly those who are at high risk, with those doses and move Maine closer to recovery.” “The fine work of vaccination clinics throughout Maine makes it possible to get shots into the arms of more residents sooner than originally projected,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “With weekly vaccine allocations expected to increase in the near future, we can move ahead with vaccinating all Maine adults.” In announcing Maine’s age-based vaccination approach on February 26, Governor Mills said the timeframe could be accelerated. Vaccination for residents aged 50 and older was previously scheduled to begin on April 1, 2021, and for all adults on May 1, 2021. The vaccine schedule is now as follows: March 3: Age 60 and older March 23: Age 50 and older April 19: All Maine residents age 16 and older Maine is also implementing the Biden Administration’s directive to vaccinate teachers, school staff, and licensed child care workers this month. The Maine Departments of Education and Health and Human Services have hosted vaccination clinics for Maine teachers age 60 and older. As with all changes in eligibility, it will take some time for some vaccine clinics to begin to schedule appointments and administer COVID-19 vaccines. Some vaccine sites may now begin accepting appointments for residents aged 50 and older, while others are preparing to offer appointments in the coming days. To find a vaccination site, visit the State’s vaccine website. To date, more than 352,000 Maine people have received their first dose of the vaccine – more than 26 percent of our population, with nearly 16 percent being fully vaccinated. To date, approximately 64 percent of Maine people age 60 or older have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, with 35 percent completing the vaccine series.  Maine currently ranks 5th best nationwide for the percentage of its population fully vaccinated. The Mills Administration continues to take steps to expand the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine in Maine, including standing up large-scale vaccination sites – most recently in Portland, Sanford, and Auburn – that are prepared to expand their capacity to get shots into arms with an increase in the supply of vaccine from the Federal government. Further, the Mills Administration is continuing to expand vaccinations in rural and hard-to-reach communities and for Maine people who are homebound. The State and the Federal Government are also providing vaccine to Community Health Centers for underserved areas. Independent pharmacies and emergency medical services clinicians are visiting independent senior living communities to vaccinate residents on-site, and public health nurses are holding clinics throughout the state to meet the needs of at-risk Maine people who cannot easily travel to large-scale community vaccination clinics. Despite having the oldest median age population in the country, Maine, adjusted for population, ranks third lowest in total number of COVID-19 cases and fourth lowest in number of deaths from COVID-19, according to the U.S. CDC. The state’s seven-day positivity rate is the fourth lowest in the nation, according to Johns Hopkins testing tracker.Additionally, according to Moody’s Analytics and CNN Business’s “Back to Normal Index”,Maine is best in New England in returning to pre-pandemic economic activity. Additional information on vaccination for people in Maine is available at Maine’s COVID-19 vaccine website.

 

UPDATED 10 July: SPECIFIC CHECKLIST Spas and Close-Contact Personal Services: https://www.maine.gov/decd/checklists/spas-services

Updated 10 June:

https://www.maine.gov/decd/checklists/massage-facilities

21 May UPDATED RESOURCES from AMTA National:

Expanded Reopening Consideration for Massage Therapists: Practice Guidelines and Insurance Coverage As the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve, AMTA is committed to supporting you and making sure you have the most up to date information.  Each state will have its own reopening guidance, and it’s important to be aware of the laws, executive orders, and regulations that impact massage therapists at this time.  It’s also important to make sure that your professional liability insurance covers you for communicable diseases like the Coronavirus.  AMTA members, rest assured, there are no exclusions on your policy for this Coronavirus or communicable diseases. If you’re not an AMTA member, make sure you check with your provider.   The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) has developed guidelines for state and regulatory agencies of oversight and massage therapists across various workplace settings that are now available for download. AMTA state updates and considerations FSMTB guidelines and considerations Please forward to any massage therapists you think would benefit from this new resource. Subscribe to AMTA’s advocacy mailing list here.

 

FROM MAINE State Governor and Commissioner: NOV 2020:

The Governor has ordered that any business now authorized to be open shall comply with the General COVID-19 Prevention Checklist and other State of Maine guidance in response to the serious health and safety risks of the highly contagious COVID-19.  As a licensee of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), it is your responsibility to be aware of these COVID-19 safety measures and applicable compliance requirements.

OPOR licensing entities may impose discipline on licensees found to have violated COVID-19 safety measures.  When OPOR receives a complaint of noncompliance with COVID-19 safety measures through the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) portal, an informal educational letter is sent to the licensee.  If OPOR receives acomplaint through its complaint intake form, or if OPOR receives additional allegations of noncompliance through the DECD portal after the informal educational letter is sent, the formal complaint process is triggered, and the licensee may be subject to discipline.

Please be aware that in general, and subject to a few exceptions, you must:

• Wear a face covering at all times in public settings. A public setting is broadly defined and includes all indoor spaces open to the public and most outdoor spaces, even where physical distancing is possible.
• Maintain physical distancing
• Practice proper hand hygiene; and
• Post readily visible signs notifying customers of the requirement to wear cloth face coverings.

We encourage you to pay special attention to the following COVID-19 safety protocols:

• Executive Order 16 FY 20/21[1] Order To Revise Indoor Gathering Limits, Strengthen Face Covering Requirements And Delegate Certain Authority
• General COVID-19 Prevention Checklist

The State’s response to COVID-19 is evolving as more information becomes available.  We recommend that you stay up to date by accessing the resources available at https://www.maine.gov/covid19/.  This site includes links to the Governor’s Executive Orders, DECD checklists, and other resources that may be helpful to you professionally or personally.

If you have questions, we encourage you to contact your board’s administrator. Thank you for your efforts to keep your community, your clients and yourself safe and healthy.

---

[1] Effective November 4, 2020, 16 FY 20/21: (1) states face covering requirements, including those set forth in Executive Orders 49 FY 19/20, 2 FY 20/21, and 14 FY 20/21, apply in public settings regardless of the ability to maintain physical distance and (2) repeals contrary language in Section V of Executive Order 49 FY 19/20.

 

16 May UPDATED RESOURCES from AMTA National Site: https://www.amtamassage.org/about/news/covid-19-resources-for-massage-therapists/

8 May 2020 on Maine.gov: Gov. Janet Mills latest re-opening information, please read carefully. https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-introduces-rural-reopening-plan-2020-05-08

CONTACT: To share your opinion, ask for more information, schedule a meeting, or request assistance: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/contact

UPDATES DOCUMENT for Maine Licensed Massage Therapists 1 May 2020, please click on the line below

Notice to Licensed Massage Therapists

Feel free to contact one of our volunteers via phone or email anytime. If we do not have an answer or resources, we can search further on your behalf.

Please let our volunteers know if you have other valuable resources or any questions you think we can assist with.

We are here to support one another, share, and stay connected. This is a great time to get involved with our committees to keep activities and future planning buoyed and robust.

Regular updates via AMTA National that come to us include membership renewals, financial supports, Federal and state relief/grants, loans, CDC guidelines, state and local updates for businesses, how to prepare for re-opening etc.

https://www.amtamassage.org/index.html

1 May 2020 UPDATES:

RE-OPENING MAINE’S ECONOMY in STAGES

“Governor Mills Safe and Gradual Plan to restart Maine’s economy”:

https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-presents-safe-gradual-plan-restart-maines-economy-2020-04-28

According to Governor Mill’s Gradual Plan to Restart the Economy; “ Tentatively beginning July 1, …”with appropriate safety precautions, Stage 3  would allow for some degree of opening for Personal Services such as spas, tattoo and piercing parlors, and massage facilities”. Stage 3 (July & August):

Stage 3 contemplates maintaining the prohibition on gatherings of more than 50 people and other Stage 1 and Stage 2 restrictions, including the 14-day quarantine on people entering Maine. …

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html

UNEMPLOYMENT OPTIONS

Information on the three Federal Unemployment Programs PDF April 28, 2020
https://www.maine.gov/labor/docs/2020/covid19/FEDERALUIPROGRAMSTATUSUPDATE421.pdf

May 1^st,  the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ( PUA) unemployment will be available: for self-employed

• Maine Department of Labor will begin accepting PUA applications on May 1, 2020, 1-800-593-7660 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and those whose claims do not require further review should begin receiving benefits within seven days from filing. Further, those receiving PUA benefits will also receive the additional weekly $600 from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. All claims will be retroactive to the date of business closure or job separation provided on the application. If employment was lost earlier than March 15 due to COVID-19, claimants will be able to provide documentation to show that in the coming weeks. For more information on PUA and instructions on how to apply, please visit www.maine.gov/unemployment/pua/.

• For more information and resources, visit the Department’s COVID-19 page: https://www.maine.gov/labor/covid19/
• Follow the Maine Department of Labor on Facebook @MElabor and Twitter @maine_labor.

May 1 the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ( PUA) unemployment will be available:

• Update! Applications accepted for federal unemployment program covering self-employed and others starting Friday May 1st. See more on MDOL Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Informational web page.
• Status Update on New Federal Unemployment Programs(PDF)
• To review FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, please download the Unemployment Insurance FAQs Regarding

Small Business Loans are also still available in Maine. Payment Protection Plan ( PPP) loans and Disaster Relief Loans. Sole Proprietors who file taxes with a schedule C form, can apply for a PPP. Self-employed massage therapists are considered an employee, and you can pay yourself, based on calculations from your Schedule c or quick books, or excel chart of you income this past year.

Go to : https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources#section-header-0

Before you decide which to do: look at your monthly income, business expenses, and decide if the unemployment benefits make sense, or the PPP loan. With loans, you can pay yourself, and cover other expenses of running your business for 8 weeks. There are calculation formulas on the websites.

This website above has applications for the loans.

US Department of Treasury / COVID 19 loans, also has information for calculating you loan amount, and frequently asked questions.

The Paycheck Protection Program established by the CARES Act, is implemented by the Small Business Administration with support from the Department of the Treasury.  This program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities.

You cannot do a PPP ( Payment Protection Plan) loan and, also file for unemployment.

Before you decide which to do: look at your monthly income and decide if the unemployment benefits will pay more, or the PPP payroll. There are calculation formulas on the websites.

Below a list compiled by our Government Relations Committee:

https://www.maine.gov/labor/covid19/

MORE LINKS as of 26 April:

https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-unveils-actions-protect-housing-maine-people-amidst-covid-19-pandemic-2020-04

 

https://www.mainehousing.org/programs-services/rental/rentaldetail/covid-19-rental-relief-program

 

https://www.maine.gov/labor/news_events/article.shtml?id=2241241

 

https://maineequaljustice.org/people/covid-19-resources/?link_id=1&can_id=cadc2661605ed0ede497509674d5892d&source=email-grappling-with-covid-19-upcoming-remote-actions&email_referrer=email_752486&email_subject=grappling-with-covid-19-upcoming-remote-actions

 

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

 

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cVT10YBNdMybpw4AQcerieBz2xzyxN2KCt3fvN6-UT8/edit

 

• A statewide COVID-19 response websitethat includes a directory of how each Maine agency is responding, as well as resources for health care, small businesses, education, family care and more.
• A COVID-19 Rent Relief Programwhich allows households that meet certain criteria to receive a one-time, up to $500 payment in rental assistance to be paid directly to their landlord.
• A Maine Department of Labor factsheetand COVID-19 webpageto help navigate unemployment insurance benefits.
• A compilation of resources, updates and helpcreated by Maine Equal Justice for Mainers trying to manage health care, food security, evictions, court proceedings and other issues during this time.
• The website for small businessesto apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans through the US Small Business Administration.
• Detailed information on the FAME COVID-19 Consumer Loan Guarantee Programoffering low-or-no interest loans to qualifying applicants.
• An online applicationfor businesses that believe they should be classified as essential under Gov. Mills’ March 24 Executive Order.

A resource to get answers any time by dialing 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), texting your ZIP code to 898-211 or emailing info@211maine.org.

Reps: Brian Hubbell, Serving District 135. 207-288-3947. Brian.Hubbell@legislature.maine.gov