BELFAST — The UMaine Hutchinson Center announced that due to public health concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic all events with more than 25 participants will be temporarily postponed through Sunday, April 5, effective Monday, March 16.

As of March 13, there are three presumed positive cases of the novel coronavirus in Maine. Though no cases of COVID-19 have been found in or directly around Waldo County as of March 13, 2020, the Hutchinson Center, according to a news release, will implement measures to reduce the number of people who pass through the venue on a daily basis, prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and protect the health of the community. 

Effective Monday, March 16, all events at the Hutchinson Center with groups larger than 25 will be postponed through Sunday, April 5.

This measure includes conferences, events, meetings, professional development programs and live classes.

Social distancing measures will be put into places for groups of 25 or fewer.

The Hutchinson Center will remain open for students who need access to WiFi and would not be able to participate in their coursework otherwise as long as it remains safe to do so.

After moving all live classes online, the University of Maine System has implemented several measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 disruptions. More information for students will be provided when these options are finalized.

These measures are being implemented in order to keep the community safe and prevent the potential spread of COVID-19. To that end, people who are thinking about coming to the Hutchinson Center are asked to consider if they can access the resources they need (WiFi, course materials, computer, etc.) from home.

Those who can access these resources from home are encouraged to. Those who have no other means to access these resources are welcome to come to the Hutchinson Center.

Resources are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Given the unpredictability of the coronavirus situation, this is subject to change. For the latest updates, visit the Hutchinson Center’s website.

All faculty, staff and visitors to the Hutchinson Center are urged to take basic preventative measures to avoid exposure to or infection from the virus causing COVID-19 including practicing social distancing (avoiding large crowds, staying home if sick and avoiding close contact to other people) and to be aware of risk factors.

The Hutchinson Center will continue to monitor the situation and provide ongoing updates on their website. For more information or to reschedule, please contact the Hutchinson Center staff at 207.338.8000 or at hutchinsoncenter@maine.edu.