PORTLAND, Maine (WGAN) Portland City Manager Jon Jennings and Mayor Kate Snyder announced Tuesday that officials are putting a stay-at-home order in place beginning 5 p.m. Wednesday, lasting until at least Monday, to combat the spread of coronavirus in the city.

The order shuts down many businesses providing non-essential goods or services, with several exceptions.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Kate Snyder says the tighter restrictions come as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to climb in Portland and Cumberland County:

“With 90 of 118 confirmed cases in Southern Maine, we are obligated to take additional measures to protect public health,” said Mayor Kate Snyder. “We know this is a person to person virus that requires vigilant social distancing in order to stem the spread. Portland’s early actions laid the base for today’s additional, aggressively cautious measures. The City Council is in support of the Manager’s action, and appreciative of this expansion of efforts that seeks to safeguard people, and alleviate the inevitable strain on our health care system.”

While the order mandates that non-essential businesses close to the public, it encourages workers at those businesses who can work remotely to do so. Businessowners and employees can also still access their business’s location to conduct essential tasks as long as the fewest number of employees possible are at the location.

The stay-at-home order permits outdoor exercise and dog-walking, and does not restrict transportation, but mandates the continued practicing of social distancing by staying at least 6 feet apart from others and avoiding congregating of large groups. It also encourages residents to avoid the use of public playgrounds.