Maine governor enacts stricter mask laws

Governor Mills also mentioned that more and stricter measures may be necessary before the pandemic is over.

The new order mandates that no one be admitted to any indoor public space unless they are wearing a mask, no matter how big it is or how few people are inside, according to WGME 13.

The order affects a previous rule which made mask use mandatory in spaces of 50,000 square feet or more, extending the requirement to all spaces regardless of size.

"Short of closing businesses and schools and requiring people to stay home, which is the last thing I want to do, especially during the holidays, we are running out of available public health tools to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Maine," Governor Mills said.

"Hospitalizations are on the rise, more people are getting sick, and more people are dying. We know masks can stop the spread, but we need people to wear them. This executive order is aimed at ensuring that we are protecting people in stores, protecting store employees, and keeping Maine people healthy," she continued.

Curtis Picard, the CEO of Retail Association of Maine, concurred, "Maine's retailers, grocers and restaurants employ one in four Maine workers. That means you have a family member, a friend or a neighbor that is relying on that job to survive. If you don't wear a mask, don't try to enter a store. It's that simple: No Mask, No Service, No Exceptions."