 |
|
Town of New Gloucester
385 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260
(207) 926-4126 (phone) / (207) 926-4136 (fax)
|
Town of Poland
1231 Maine Street, Poland, ME 04274
(207) 998-4601 (phone) / (207) 998-2002 (fax)
|
|
 |
National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week
EMS Week is a perfect time to honor those frontline heroes dedicated to providing emergency medicine that saves so many lives every day. We understand that the 2020 EMS Week was probably not a top priority due to the COVID-19 crisis. This year’s campaign will focus on what EMS is and what it does.
The 2021 EMS Week theme is "THIS IS EMS: Caring for Our Communities." This theme is particularly meaningful now in reminding people that EMS are still there to respond, support, and care for the needs of our communities.
Maine to Adopt U.S. CDC’s New COVID-19 Guidance
Following a review by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine’s Governor recently announced that the State of Maine is adopting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (U.S. CDC) new guidance that allows fully vaccinated Americans not to wear face coverings indoors effective May 24, 2021.
Maine will also lift the physical distancing requirement at indoor public settings where people are eating or drinking and therefore would be removing their face covering, such as indoor restaurants, bars, dining areas in camps or in congregate living facilities, and break rooms.
Consistent with the U.S. CDC’s guidelines, it is recommended that people in Maine who are not fully vaccinated wear face coverings in indoor public settings. The U.S. CDC requires people to wear masks on all planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation.
The May 24 date aligns with Maine’s previously established timeline to remove restrictions and allows those who have not yet been vaccinated to receive at least their first shot prior to the change. This includes youth ages 12 to 15 who just recently became eligible for a vaccine. To schedule a vaccine appointment, visit Maine.gov/covid19/vaccines or call 1-888-445-4111.
Additionally, in light of the increased role the U.S. CDC has assumed in issuing guidance, the State of Maine will begin retiring its COVID-19 prevention checklists and transitioning to U.S. CDC guidelines as appropriate. The Maine Department of Education’s requirements and recommendations for schools, along with other federal requirements, remain in effect at this time. Additional federal guidance from the U.S. CDC for schools and other venues is expected.
Businesses and other organizations may, consistent with legal obligations, adopt policies for their employees or clients that either require vaccination or require proof of vaccination in order to avoid wearing a mask.
Tick Prevention and Property Management
Reducing your exposure to ticks lowers your chances of getting a tickborne disease. While it is good to take preventative measures against ticks all year, you should be extra careful during warmer months when ticks are most active. If you work or play outdoors, you should:
- wear EPA-approved repellents;
- avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter;
- walk in the center of trails;
- wear long-sleeved, light-colored clothing;
- tuck your pant legs into your socks and your shirt into your pants;
- check your clothing and gear for ticks, and do a full-body tick check when coming back indoors. Pay special attention to under the arms, behind the knees, between the legs, in and around the ears, in the belly button, around the waist, and in the hair; and
- take a shower within two hours after spending time outdoors, which will wash off any unattached ticks.
For addition tips, including the types of repellents to use to prevent ticks, what you should do after returning from a tick habitat, what to do if you find an attached tick, and how to reduce tick habitats around your yard, click here.
Additional Resources
|
