News

Portland City Council votes to lift indoor mask mandate

Portland City Council votes to lift indoor mask mandate

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Maine’s largest city is lifting its indoor mask requirement.

Portland Mayor Kate Snyder proposed extending the pandemic-related mask mandate for indoor public spaces through March 7, but the City Council instead voted 7-2 Monday evening to scrap the mandate, effective in 10 days.

Maine is seeing a decline in hospitalizations and in positive test results submitted to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. But the U.S. Center for Disease Control continues to classify Cumberland County as an area of “high transmission.”

Snyder said she supported the council’s decision to end the mandate, which had gone into effect Jan. 3.

“I do think we’re transitioning to a new place that forces us to figure out how we’re going to live with this thing,” she said.

Some councilors said they are interested in revisiting the mandate if COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations start to increase again.

Latest Headlines

16 hours ago in Local

Maine Lawmakers Pass Bill to Let Jails Turn Away Some ICE Detainees

Governor Mills has indicated she will sign the bill.

18 hours ago in Local

Two Arrested in Gardiner for Drug Dealing, Gun Charges

Officers say they saw what looked like illegal drugs at the residence.

21 hours ago in Local

New Hampshire Man Dead in I-95 Crash in Newport

Maine State Police say they were on their way to assist a stopped car in the travel lane of I-95.

21 hours ago in Local

Casco Bay Lines considers another fare hike for passengers

Riding the ferry in Casco Bay could get more expensive as the ferry line considers a 21 percent increase for passenger fares.

21 hours ago in Local

Sen. Collins’ office says remark about not seeking another term after November was an “off-hand comment”

Sen. Susan Collins is walking back her comment that she would only serve one more term if elected in November.