In the latest move to relax restrictions on the coronavirus pandemic, Governor Janet Mills’ administration said on Friday that guests staying in Maine no longer need reservations.
The governor’s administration has been gradually updating security checklists since it announced in early March that the state would allow more people to travel to Maine without COVID-19 or quarantine tests and relax capacity limits at stores and other locations. , maintaining the security protocols in force.
Friday’s change, effective immediately, consolidates the guidelines for hotels, short-term rentals and camps in a single lodging checklist. The updated checklist also reviews cleaning protocols.
Hotels, along with restaurants, are among the businesses most affected by the pandemic restrictions, including capacity limits. Tax revenue, which reflects the health of the sector, fell 7 percent in January and 75 percent in April, the first full month in which pandemic restrictions were applied, both compared to January 2020.
From March 26th, internal meetings may have 50% of the permitted occupancy or 50 people, whichever is greater. This rises to 75 percent of the permitted occupancy or 50 people, whichever is greater, as of May 24. Outdoor meetings have a 75 percent occupancy limit on March 26 and 100 percent from May 24. Individuals in shared spaces must still maintain 6 feet of physical distance.
Camps are limited to a single family. Short-term rental spaces in a occupied residence must have a separate external entrance and exit and do not require the use of shared facilities, such as bathrooms and kitchens.
Mills’s office said the changes are being made as the COVID-19 vaccines progress in Maine and to help with the upcoming tourism season, which was effectively closed or running minimally for several months last year.
On Friday, the governor also accelerated the vaccination calendar in the state, with those over 50 eligible for vaccination on March 23 and over 16 on April 19.
“This is great, especially for younger workers in the hospitality industry,” said Steve Hewins, executive director of the HospitalityMaine Education Foundation.