Gov. Janet Mills has extended a state of civil emergency for the 10th time since the coronavirus pandemic started, her office announced on Tuesday. The extension will last through Jan. 20, 2021.
The emergency state is required in order to draw federal resources and to use all means available to respond to and contain the spread of COVID-19, her office said. Under Maine law, the proclamations may be issued in 30-day increments.
“The biggest gift we can give this holiday season is not a present under the tree or a hug to a loved one,” Mills said in a statement. “The best gift we can give, and the best gift we can receive, is good health.”
The extension of the emergency state comes as coronavirus cases continue to surge in Maine. On Tuesday, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 11 deaths and 461 cases statewide.