Local Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A $400,000 grant has been awarded to the Midcoast Economic Development District located in Damariscotta from the Economic Development Administration.

The organization supports redevelopment and revitalization in the region to diversify and strengthen the regional economy. 

The funding, authorized under the CARES Act, will assist the organization in coronavirus response, recovery, and resiliency.

The scope of work requires the recipient to undertake one…

WALDOBORO — Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in March, kindergarteners in Kara Paul’s class at Miller School in Waldoboro would sit together, usually in groups of three to five, at tables. A bin of shared supplies such as pencils, scissors and glue sticks dotted the middle of each table. 

Center time, when students rotate through each table to complete different reading and math activities, was a major aspect of Paul’s daily instruction before the pandemic shifted instruction…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 17, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 16, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded a total of $2,228,481 to public housing agencies across Maine to support affordable housing and bolster COVID-19 prevention and response efforts throughout the State of Maine, according to a news release.

This second installment of supplemental funding was awarded through a provision of the CARES Act that directed $48.5 billion to support transportation and housing programs throughout the country.…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 15, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 127.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 15, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Internal Revenue Service, in a news release, said the organization continues to look for ways to help people who were unable to provide their information in time to receive Economic Impact Payments for their children.

As part of that effort, the Internal Revenue Service announced Friday it will reopen the registration period for federal beneficiaries who didn’t receive $500 per child payments earlier this year.

The IRS urges certain federal benefit…

MIDCOAST — Teachers in the Midcoast counties of Knox, Waldo and Lincoln are likely to return to campus this fall, if their school district allows for in-person learning, despite area teachers being concerned for their health, and the health of their students, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey of educators conducted by the Maine Department of Education in July.

With health professionals stressing daily the importance of social distancing, the majority of…

LINCOLNVILLE — The Lincolnville Central School’s school committee will be holding an emergency meeting Tuesday, Aug. 18 in the school’s library and via Zoom at 6 p.m.

The meeting is being called so the committee can vote on the school reopening plan. 

For link, call or email Wendy Tricomi 207-763-3818 or wendy.tricomi@fivetowns.net. 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. Adjustments…

AUGUSTA — The Mills Administration released Friday an updated color coded Health Advisory System that classifies counties’ relative risk of COVID-19 transmission by color for schools as they continue with their plans to deliver instruction and support students  safely this fall.
 
The updated assessment released today showed that Maine’s 16 counties continue to be designated “green,” with no changes from  …

BELFAST — The RSU 71 school board will be holding a special board meeting Monday, Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Captain Albert Stevens School with the public able to attend virtually via Zoom. 

Register in advance for this webinar: zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_enuggRfBTsqkUtOT7a25wA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The highlight of the meeting will be an update on…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 14, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

MIDCOAST — In geographical pockets across the U.S., families are relocating amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, either to second homes, or even new homes. 

In New York, for example, families with second homes on Long Island fled hard-hit New York City and spent the summer transferring their children to schools in the Hamptons, according to the …

The University of Maine System is extending planned asymptomatic COVID-19 testing to include a second round of screening for all students or staff arriving from out-of-state, residence hall students, and special populations. The phase two follow up screening will occur 7-10 days after arrival testing and is part of a three-phase surveillance strategy recommended by the UMS Scientific…

AUGUSTA —For the week ending August 8, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 1,500 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 280 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

These claims represent about 1,500 individuals filing an initial claim, per a news release. 

About 50,200 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment. In addition, about 26,800 weekly certifications were filed…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 13, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

MIDCOAST — Families of students attending schools in Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties are likely to send their students back to campus this fall if their child’s school district allows for in-person instruction, according to a family survey conducted by the Maine Department of Education in July. 

Despite their willingness to send students back to campus in the fall, the majority of Midcoast families feel students will not adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines recommended by the Maine…

APPLETON — The school committee for the Appleton Village School has set the agenda for its regularly scheduled meeting for Monday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. in the school gymnasium and via Zoom. 

The highlight of the meeting will be a report on the school reopening plan. 

For a Zoom link, call or email Wendy Tricomi 207-763-3818 or wendy.tricomi@fivetowns.net. 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment…

HOPE — The school committee for Hope Elementary School has called for an emergency school committee meeting for Friday, Aug. 14 remotely at 6 p.m. over Zoom. 

The highlight of the meeting will be a vote on the school’s reopening plan. 

For the Zoom link, call or email Wendy Tricomi 207-763-3818 or wendy.tricomi@fivetowns.net. 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. Adjustments to the…

The following letter was distributed Wednesday, Aug. 12 by Islesboro Central School Head of School Chuck Hamm:

Dear ICS Community, 

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones healthy and able to spend time outside, enjoying the beautiful Maine Coast. We are fortunate to live in a place with such natural beauty and diverse outdoor opportunities. As the summer weeks go by, we prepare for several contingencies this fall with an eye on attending school in person.…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a push by Maine’s Congressional Delegation and Governor Janet Mills, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Wednesday producers of maple sap used to make maple syrup are now eligible for direct financial relief to help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19.

In June, U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden sent a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue in support of…

ROCKLAND — The school board for Regional School Unit 13 has called for a special school board meeting to take place Thursday, Aug. 13 remotely at 6:30 p.m.

The meeting’s purpose is to vote on the RSU 13 School Reopening and Operation Plan. 

For more information on the district’s reopening plan, click here. …

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 12, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they are…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor has announced the State has partnered with Coursera, a leading online learning platform, in its Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative.

This initiative is designed to support governments worldwide in providing unemployed workers with free access to 3,800 online courses, according to a news release. 

The goal of this partnership is to help laid off workers develop the knowledge and skills to become re-employed more quickly.

Up to 5,…

Ocean State Job Lot, which has a location in Rockland and Belfast, is distributing more than $1.5 million worth of PPE to police and fire departments in the 142 communities where Ocean State Job Lot stores are currently, or soon-to-be, located across the Northeast.

The donations include 6,000 surgical masks, 3,200 KN95 masks, 40 gallons of hand sanitizer, 20 face shields and 30 infrared non-contact thermometers, a total retail value of over $11,000, to each community. 

“With…

AUGUSTA —The Mills Administration announced Tuesday it has approved an additional $4 million in awards to more than 80 municipalities and Tribal governments across the state under a second round of Keep Maine Healthy funding to support local COVID-19 public health, education, and prevention efforts.

The announcement follows the award in late June of the first round of funding to municipalities under the Keep Maine Healthy Plan, with approximately $9 million awarded to nearly 100…

WALDO COUNTY — Dale Rowley, Waldo County’s Emergency Management Agency director, distributed the following Aug. 11 assessment of COVID-19 cases in Maine.

In it he noted: “Some bit of good news. Waldo County has no active cases and the vast majority of Mainers (99.7%) have not become infected from Covid19 in the last five months.”

Rowley compiled his data and attributed his sources below each graph.

Maine Population Data as of August 11, 2020 after five months of…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 11, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 126.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 11, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maine farmers have been awarded a total of $14,062,098 to date to help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19, according to a news release. 

The funding is provided through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), created through the CARES Act, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers.

In addition to facilitating the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CFAP is providing…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 10, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

BELFAST — The Belfast Free Library has begun a new digital archives project, called the “Belfast Free Library COVID-19 Community Archives.”

In an effort to document and preserve stories of how COVID-19 has reshaped the lives of Maine people, the Belfast Free Library joins a number of other Maine libraries that are working together on an unprecedented archiving project made available online and subsequently preserved for future generations, according to the Library, in a news release…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 9, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 8, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 125.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 8, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

AUGUSTA — The Department of Labor is reinstating the work search requirement on Aug. 9 for some individuals receiving unemployment benefits, according to a news release. 

The reinstatement comes, per the release, in light of relatively low rates of COVID-19 transmission in Maine and nearly all businesses open across the state. 

The requirement, which is mandated by Maine law for all unemployment claimants, had previously been extended under emergency legislation by the state…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 7, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC. 

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thirteen Maine colleges and universities have been awarded a total of $5,082,580 through the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Support Services Program, according to a news release. 

The Student Support Services Program (SSS) is a federally-funded TRIO program that helps institutions of higher education provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and guide students toward the successful completion of their…

AUGUSTA — For the week ending August 1, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 1,600 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 470 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

These claims represent about 1,700 individuals filing an initial claim, per a news release. 

About 53,100 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment. In addition, about 26,400 weekly certifications were filed…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 6, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

There have been more than 3,900 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 across the state since outbreak began in March. 

A confirmed case means an individual received a positive PCR test result from any approved lab. Probable cases occur when an individual has been in close contact with a positive individual and is symptomatic or an individual has a positive serology test and is…

The following was shared by RSU 13 officials:

RSU 13 2020-2021 Reopening Plan

A successful opening will be a safe opening. RSU 13 has been immersed in the important committee work of developing recommendations. Committee members have been involved in the following activities:

Consulting with other state and area leaders and field experts

Referencing documents from not only the Maine DOE and CDC but also other state reopening documents…

ROCKLAND — The Regional School Unit 13 school board has established its agenda for its regularly scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 11 meeting. 

The meeting is slated to begin at 6 p.m. with an executive session, followed by the open meeting at 6:30 p.m. 

The highlights of the meeting will be a vote on the district’s reopening and operation plan amid COVID-19, and the ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding between the school board and the Seacoast Educators Association, the…

AUGUSTA — Governor Mills extended Wednesday the State of Civil Emergency for 30 days through September 3.

The Governor’s decision, per a news release, to extend the emergency is in line with nearly every other state in the nation, which also have ongoing emergency declarations, according to the National Governors Association. 

“Maine people have taken the tough but necessary steps to protect the health and safety of us all, and it is their actions that are allowing our economy…

ROCKLAND — Maine citizens who have been affected by COVID-19 and are having trouble paying rent can apply for rent assistance of up to $1,000 per month for three months through a COVID-19 Rental Relief Program.

The assistance would be payable directly to the landlord, according to Rockland’s…

CAMDEN — With the overhaul of the Mechanic Street parking lot, an engineering fix to protect the foundation of an abutting building has lead to the necessary creation of an empty cavity. Acknowledging its structural oddity, a crew from Camden Public Works took at a look at that space as potential for something creative, but what?

Bury a time capsule, suggested one person. 2020 is such a crazy year, anyhow, everyone agreed. Cover it in old bricks found recently in the Megunticook River…

The following letter was distributed Aug. 5 by St. George MSU Superintendent Mike Felton: 

Dear St. George Families and Community Members,

The Return to School Committee and subcommittees are working hard preparing for the 2020/21 school year, which begins for students on Tuesday, September 8.  We shared our …

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 5, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 124.

The Maine CDC announced Aug. 4 an individual classified as passing with COVID-19 has been removed from the death toll count. 

“As part of the investigation Maine CDC does on all individuals with COVID-19, even those who have deceased, we determined the death of the individual that we originally classified as related to COVID-19 did not…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 5, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

There have been more than 3,900 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 across the state since outbreak began in March. 

A confirmed case means an individual received a positive PCR test result from any approved lab. Probable cases occur when an individual has been in close contact with a positive individual and is symptomatic or an individual has a positive serology test and is either…

There is a new shortage happening nationwide amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — coins.

Because of business shutdowns and social distancing, people have been spending cash at stores or restaurants at record low levels, the Federal Trade Commission advised in an Aug. 4 consumer alert. 

Adding to the shortage, the U…

NORTHPORT — The Edna Drinkwater School’s school committee will be holding a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11. 

The meeting agenda is highlighted by a vote on the school’s COVID-19 three tier plan. 

Agenda

1. Call to Order and Declaration of a Quorum

2. Citizen Comments

3. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes of Regular School Committee meeting

4. Reports
A. Superintendent
B. Principal
C. School…

HOPE — The Hope Elementary School’s school committee will be holding a regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Aug. 10 via Zoom at 6 p.m. 

The highlights of the meeting will be the school’s fall reopening plans and a vote on the school bus routes for the fall. 

For the Zoom link, call or email Wendy Tricomi 207-763-3818 or wendy.tricomi@fivetowns.net. 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. Adjustments to the agenda

4.…

WALDOBORO — The RSU 40 school board will be holding a board of directors meeting remotely Aug. 6 via Google Meet at 7 p.m.

The highlight of the meeting will be the board’s vote on plans for the 2020-2021 school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Join by Computer: Audio and Visual or Join by phone: Audio Only meet.google.com/ocx-gegw-vmr (US) +1 505-663-6847 PIN: 824 439 523#

Agenda

I. Call to Order
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Declaration…

UNITY — The RSU 3 school board will be holding a special board meeting Wednesday, Aug. 5 at the Mount View Complex at 6 p.m. 

The highlight of the meeting will be a school board vote on the district’s draft return to school plans. 

RSU 3 serves the town of Brooks, Freedom, Jackson, Knox, Liberty, Monroe, Montville, Thorndike, Troy, Unity and Waldo. 

Agenda

A. Call to Order

B. Pledge of Allegiance 

C. Roll Call

D. Adjustments…