ORDER OF THE CITY MANAGER

WHEREAS, there is currently an outbreak of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”), a respiratory illness, first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and it continues to expand to a growing number of international locations, including the United States; and

WHEREAS,  on January 31, 2020, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services announced a nationwide public health emergency to respond to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (the “WHO”) declared that global health crisis involving COVID-19 is a pandemic; and

WHEREAS, on March 12, 2020, the State of Maine identified and confirmed its first case of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, there are thirty -two (32) confirmed and presumptively positive cases in Maine of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 has been detected in thousands of people worldwide and can be spread from person to person; and

WHEREAS, this worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has risen steadily in the past months; and

WHEREAS, the City of Rockland (the “City”) and all of its departments are prepared to respond to COVID-19 and are committed to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of all Rockland residents; and

WHEREAS, the City urges the public to stay home if they are ill and consult with their doctor if they are experiencing more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath, are older adults, or are any age with chronic medical conditions that increase the likelihood of a more severe COVID-19 disease; and

WHEREAS, the City recommends that all Rockland businesses who are able to do so encourage and allow their employees to work remotely; and

WHEREAS, the City recommends that all fitness centers, gyms, yoga studios, indoor cycling studios cease operations for the immediate future; and

WHEREAS, the City recommends that all Rockland restaurants and bars institute and follow the recommended CDC guidance, and further close their establishments to all in-person dining and gathering, and only offer take-out dining options for their customers; and

WHEREAS, the risk of community spread throughout Rockland impacts the life, health and safety of the public and public health is imperiled by the person-to-person spread of COVID-19; 

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in me through the statutes of the State of Maine, the Rockland City Code, Chapter 2, article XXI, I, Thomas J. Luttrell, City Manager for the City of Rockland, in consultation with the Mayor and City Council of the City of Rockland, do hereby declare and order as follows:

1. A civil state of emergency exists within the entire City of Rockland.

2. I hereby declare no business shall host or organize and no more than 10 individuals shall be in or remain in any establishment at the same time within the City including, but not limited to, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, museums, dance clubs, music venues, and any other establishment where individuals gather in groups or are in close contact with one another beginning March 17, 2020, as of the time of this writing (immediately).

3. As per Chapter 2, article XXI, this order shall remain in effect for 5 days, unless and until it is renewed by the Rockland City Council.

Dated:  Tuesday, March 17, 2020 __________________________________________________

Thomas J. Luttrell, City Manager