A proposal tying hazard pay wages to any mask mandate is still expected to go before the council this month.
coronavirus
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Repeal of mask mandate in Portland draws mixed reaction from residents and businesses
Some business owners welcome the change, saying they don’t want to police enforcement, while others say they may still require masks.
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Posted inAndroscoggin County, Franklin, Health, News, Oxford Hills
Tri-county residents account for nearly a quarter of all COVID-19 deaths under the age of 60
Data from the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention shows that 52 residents of Androscoggin, Franklin or Oxford counties under the age of 60 have died from the disease since the pandemic began.
Posted inNation / World, News
COVID deaths highest in a year as omicron targets the unvaccinated and elderly
The recent uptick in coronavirus deaths also likely includes residual deaths from delta surges that were just starting to hit parts of the country including New England in late fall before omicron became the dominant strain.
Posted inBusiness, Nation / World
Canada’s COVID-19 protests threaten cross-border trade with U.S.
Truckers who oppose public health measures related to the pandemic have blocked border bridges, while the truckers union says the group does not represent the industry in which 90% of truckers are vaccinated.
Posted inMaine, News, Schools & Education
School mask mandates are going away in other states. Will Maine follow suit?
As some look forward to an end of mask mandates in Maine schools, hospital patient counts remain high and the state says more federal help is coming.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Maine’s COVID-19 hospitalizations, positive tests continue to fall
The number of patients in critical care also continues to decline and has dropped 41% from the December peak.
Posted inNation / World
Governors in 4 states plan for end to school mask mandates
The decisions in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey and Oregon come amid a growing sense that the virus is never going away.
Posted inOlympics, Sports
COVID-19 robs Olympic curlers of beloved social culture
Curling is a sport built around closeness.
Posted inMaine
Silver Linings: Social Security field offices might reopen next month
With rare exception, only remote services have been available since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.