Local Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource Center: Alerts, Closings, Cancellations
The Met Opera streaming performances this week
A day after canceling upcoming performances due to concerns around the coronavirus, the Metropolitan Opera announced that it would stream encore presentations from the award-winning Live in HD series of cinema transmissions on the company website for the duration of the closure.
The new offering will begin on Monday, March 16 with the 2010 HD performance of Bizet’s “Carmen,” conducted by Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and starring Elīna Garanča in the title role and Roberto… Read more
Lincoln Theater closed for now
In hopes of our helping slow the spread of the coronavirus and Covid-19 in our community, the Lincoln Theater of Damariscotta is suspending all programming as of Monday March 16.
We will revisit the decision to reopen/stay closed in three weeks.
The office, at 2 Theater Street, will remain open during this time.
We will resume programming as soon as it is prudent to do so.
We’re here for you
The Boothbay Region Health Center wants you to know that we will remain open and available Monday thru Saturday as long as our staff remains healthy. If you believe you may have the coronavirus, we will screen you by phone and instruct you further, based on that screening.
We're offering telemedicine appointments for anyone who wants to stay in their home and have a consult with one of our primary care, mental health, or social work providers. We'll schedule a time and send you a… Read more
Boothbay Region Food Pantry notice
The Boothbay Region Food Pantry, located at 125 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor, will be open as usual on Friday, March 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Clients whose regular day for monthly pick-up, new clients, and anyone in the region who has a food emergency are welcome! This week you will be given a pre-prepared box of food and vouchers. Be prepared not to enter the pantry but to pick-up your box at the pantry door. Bring someone to lift the box for you, if necessary.
The… Read more
Feeding the area's schoolchildren
AOS 98 Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keith Laser has announced that the area schools (Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport) shut down due to the coronavirus outbreak will be providing free bag lunches commencing Tuesday, March 17. They will be available for pickup from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., each day, at the front entrance to your respective school. The lunches are only for children 18 and below per federal guidelines.
If you can't drive to pick up your child's lunch, please… Read more
Newspaper office closed but employees still working
Effective today, March 16, the Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper office at 97 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor will be closed to the public until further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, our employees are working diligently off-site to bring the communities the latest news of what is being done to combat the virus and to provide information where people can get help during this unknowing time.
We took this action to do our part to help slow the spread of the… Read more
Boothbay Region YMCA taking action
Effective Tuesday, March 17, amid what we know to be unprecedented and uncertain times and in the interest of public health, the Boothbay Region YMCA is suspending on-site operations until April 1, 2020. We will continue child care as outlined later in this letter.The BRYMCA serves a membership of more than 3,000,and we feel it is our responsibility to keep our community safe and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.We ask that you join us in this effort; our Y is going to need your support… Read more
Letter to AOS 98 parents
Dear Parents of AOS 98 Students,
By now you should have received notification from our superintendent’s office informing you that all AOS 98 schools are now officially closed. Please be aware that school staff will be at work this week and will be formulating plans to keep children learning in a remote setting.
This is a time of uncertainty for us all, so please know that we will be doing everything we can to support you and your children, and to keep you informed. I will be… Read more
Dresden’s school unit closes for two weeks
RSU 2 schools will be closed for two weeks, from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. It is in the best interest of our school communities, Kennebec County, and the state of Maine to practice social distancing now in our collective attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This action is not in response to any known or suspected case of COVID-19 in any RSU school or community but rather to the increasing number of confirmed cases in Maine.
In making this decision, I… Read more
UPDATE: Second presumptive positive case for Lincoln County
UPDATE: According to Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday, Lincoln County has had a second presumptive positive test and the first has gone from presumptive positive to confirmed. The Center lists the county’s latest case as a male in his 40s.
Original post: A Lincoln County case was among new ones Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) announced Sunday related to the disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Maine CDC received… Read more
SVRSU schools closed through March 27
Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 schools are closed through March 27, Superintendent of Schools Howie Tuttle confirmed Sunday afternoon in a text reply to Wiscasset Newspaper.
The district serves Alna, Westport Island, Whitefield, Somerville, Chelsea, Windsor and Palermo. Tuttle announced on svrsu.org: “All RSU 12 schools will be closed for two weeks from March 16-March 27 in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The situation will be revisited next week. Educators… Read more
Boothbay Harbor Police Department ready to help
The Boothbay Harbor Police Department and Fire Department have been receiving calls and questions about the current situation involving coronavirus and what we can do to assist people who are at high risk in the community,. We want the public to know we have been working on this issue night and day.
Currently, if you are a person (or are caring for a person) in a high risk health group in Boothbay Harbor, and you are concerned about how you will obtain basic needs, or you have… Read more
All AOS 98 schools closed through April break
As you are probably well aware, at this time, the decision whether to open or close schools is being left to superintendents. After consultation with the Maine, Department of Education and other superintendents yesterday and today, I have decided that schools in the AOS will be closed to students beginning tomorrow and will remain closed until the conclusion of the Spring vacation period. At that time we will reevaluate what is the next course of action.
Administrators and teachers… Read more
GSFB preparing for the COVID-19 virus
Good Shepherd Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in Maine and distributes 25 million meals per year through more than 450 partner hunger-relief programs across the state. Including food pantries, meal sites, schools, and health centers that serve families and individuals who are struggling with hunger. We are continuing this work as Maine starts to realize the impacts of COVID-19.
During times of crisis, a Food Bank’s role evolves. Good Shepherd Food Bank’s role… Read more
LincolnHealth restricts visitors at senior living facilities
LincolnHealth announced March 14 that it is limiting visitation to all of its long-term care, assisted living facilities and the Schooner Cove retirement community. Exceptions may be made for patients receiving end-of-life care after the visitor is screened.
“Given the impact COVID-19 has on the older population, we believe the best way to eliminate opportunities for infection and protect the health of our residents and team members is to limit visitation,’’ said Timothy Fox, MD,… Read more
Harbor Theater closing temporarily
Out of sincere concern for our patrons and employees and following the advice of the Maine CDC to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) by social distancing, the Harbor Theater will be temporarily closed starting Monday, March 16.
For the latest information on our plans to reopen, go to the website at www.boothbaycinema.org., check out our Facebook page or call the Theater (207) 633-0438. We look forward to welcoming you back to Harbor Theater as soon as possible.
In… Read more
UPDATE: No school in Wiscasset School Department through March 27
Wiscasset Middle High School’s Facebook page announced Sunday afternoon: “Students in Wiscasset schools will not have school starting on Monday, March 16 and schools will stay closed until March 27.” Superintendent of Schools Terry Wood emailed local newspapers the following letter:
“Dear School Community,
“We have continued to monitor and evaluate the COVID-19 situation closely this weekend. I have gathered information from many sources, heard from many of you, and paid… Read more
Town taking steps to avoid possible spread of virus
As a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the town is taking additional precautions and asking that those with flu-like symptoms or those who have visited areas where outbreaks of COVID-19 have occurred within the last 14 days, to please refrain from visiting our town office to conduct regular business.
A large number of town office services from tax payments, to vehicle, recreational and boat re-registrations, to burn permits and more, are available through our website at:… Read more
Start of spring sports delayed to late April
AUGUSTA — The Maine Principals’ Association announced in a March 13 news release the start of spring sports will be delayed.
In response to recommendations from Governor Janet Mills to not have mass gatherings, the MPA Board of Directors and Interscholastic Management Committee voted Friday morning to delay practices for the high school spring sports season until April 27.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and will make the appropriate changes as needed to ensure… Read more
Preliminary testing indicates two new presumptive positive COVID-19 cases in Maine
AUGUSTA — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) was informed this morning, March 13, by MaineHealth that preliminary testing in their lab indicates two more individuals in Maine have tested presumptively positive for the disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a press release.
Those test samples have been sent to the Maine CDC for review and will require confirmation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
… Read moreBoothbay conditionally approves county EMA pandemic response plan
Boothbay selectmen were underwhelmed by a proposed Boothbay Region Pandemic Response Plan March 11, but gave it conditional approval anyway. Southport and Boothbay Harbor select boards had previously approved the plan drafted by the Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency in response to the coronavirus. The plan was developed on information from Maine State Center for Disease Control, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and United Nations… Read more
CSD begins feeling COVID-19 educational impacts
Not much can put a small hitch in the giddy-up for a school board in the full throes of budget season, but it turns out a global pandemic can. While COVID-19 (coronavirus) didn't impose itself on school budget talks March 11, it did crop up in reports from teachers and Superintendent Keith Laser.
The CSD School Committee voted to deny an April trip to Costa Rica due to the virus and the likelihood host company Explorica will cancel trips anyway. Explorica recently canceled over 600… Read more
Maine announces first presumptive positive case, advises additional steps to respond to COVID-19
Governor Janet Mills and the Maine CDC announced today Maine’s first presumptive positive case of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Maine. The individual who tested positive is a woman in her 50s from Androscoggin County, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The Maine CDC is speaking to the individual and her medical provider to assess travel history and begin to investigate possible community exposure. The individual is quarantined at her home.
“The… Read more
Coronavirus scare impacts local lobster markets
While Maine lobster exporters are reporting a drop in prices due to lost sales to China, area dealers see a mixed picture of supply and demand at the local level.
“It is not the Chinese market. It is domestic,” said Spencer Fuller, a manager at Cozy Harbor Seafood, Inc. in Portland. “People are not going out.”
Fuller said prices are “soft” due to the fears connected with the coronavirus. “It is scaring everybody.”
Closer to home, Hugh Thompson of Robinson’s Wharf and… Read more
Midcoast Senior College cancels its spring courses
In the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, Midcoast Senior College has decided to cancel its spring term effective immediately. We are also suspending, until further notice, our Current Events forum in conjunction with Curtis Memorial Library and our sponsor, Thornton Oaks.
Midcoast Senior College is dedicated to its mission of providing educational opportunities for seniors in the Midcoast region of Maine. When this health concern has passed, we will continue to operate and plan future… Read more
Hotline available to answer general questions about COVID-19
AUGUSTA — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) and 211 Maine announced today, March 11, a new option for Mainers to get answers to questions about the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at any time.
This service is available by dialing 211 (or 1-866-811-5695), texting your ZIP code to 898-211, or emailing info@211maine.org.
Maine has no confirmed cases or presumptive positive tests for COVID-19. Maine CDC will inform the public if… Read more
Special Olympics Maine suspends activities through March due to virus concerns
Special Olympics Programs worldwide have been very strongly advised by Special Olympics International to suspend all sports training and competition activities involving their athletes through March 31, at which time the situation will be re-evaluated.
Due to the growing concerns surrounding COVID-19, Special Olympics Maine has made the difficult decision to suspend all sports, training and competition activities through the end of the month.
“This is a difficult time that… Read more
Edgecomb school committee discusses precautions for coronavirus
Alternative Organizational Structure 98 schools are formulating plans for handling the coronavirus. Superintendent Dr. Keith Laser reported during the March 9 Edgecomb School Committee meeting the district is sending out letters to staff and parents updating precautions regarding the virus which originated in the People’s Republic of China and is spreading worldwide. Globally, 114,000 cases have been confirmed with 4,028 deaths reported by LiveScience.com since the virus occurred in December… Read more
Preparing for the coronavirus
Like hospitals and health care provides across the state, LincolnHealth has been working since the earliest reported case of COVID-19, or coronavirus, to prepare for a response when it is needed.
The challenge with an evolving and novel virus is that the spread of misinformation and fear is often swifter than the movement of the virus. That’s why it is critical for all of us to choose reliable sources for the latest information.
If you visit… Read more
Where the germs are
As we watch the news about coronavirus, it seems like a good time to find out how to keep everyone’s exposure down. The coronavirus is primarily spread by droplets in the air so it’s important to cover coughs and sneezes.
But viruses can linger on surfaces, so here are some things you may want to consider so you can avoid what’s lurking out there – whether corona or flu or whatever.
- Avoid touch screen ordering at fast food restaurants and opt for ordering at the counter… Read more