AUGUSTA, Maine (WGAN) Maine Governor Janet Mills has issued a “Stay Healthy at Home” mandate, as the state ramps up efforts to control the spread of coronavirus.

The mandate, announced Tuesday afternoon, is similar to stay-at-home orders issued by some towns and cities, including Portland. It requires people living in Maine to stay at home at all times, “unless for an essential job or an essential personal reason, such as obtaining food, medicine, health care, or other necessary purposes.”

The mandate introduces other restrictions as well, such as prohibiting the use of public transportation unless for an essential reason or job that cannot be done from home.

Residents are still permitted to go outside for activities like exercise and dog-walking, as long as physical distancing is observed.

All essential businesses and operations that remain open must limit the number of customers in the buildings at any one time, enforce physical distancing, and implement curb-side and delivery options as much as possible.

The order requires all educational facilities to terminate classroom or other in-person instruction until at least May 1st.

The Executive Order takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on April 2, 2020 and will last until at least April 30, 2020.

The Governor also extended the closure of restaurants and bars statewide for dine-in customers until at least April 30, 2020 to align with today’s Executive Order.

In her statement, Governor Mills said:

“We are in the midst of one of the greatest public health crises this world has seen in more than a century. This virus will continue to sicken people across our state; our cases will only grow, and more people will die. I say this to be direct, to be as honest with you as I can. Because saving lives will depend on us. I implore you to look to yourself, your family, your friends, your loved ones, your neighbors on the front lines, first responders and health care workers fighting the virus, those who can’t stay home; the children who live around the corner, the farmer who grows your food, the grocer and the pharmacist who sell you goods, the teachers who are missing their kids; the fisherman, the sailor, the truck driver, the janitor, the waitress at your favorite diner; these are the people you are protecting by staying home. This is who you are saving.”

The executive order states that violations of the order “are a class E crime subject to up to six months in jail and a $1000 fine”