Without providing any advance notice, the state of Maine quietly (yesterday afternoon) lifted its' requirement for a "COVID test with negative results within 72 hours preceding arrival in Maine, or be subject to 14 days of quarantine in place upon arrival" restriction. This restriction had been imposed upon all Massachusetts visitors for the past several months, apparently despite MA statistics being as good as (or better than) other states which were not subjected to that same onerous requirement.
I just spoke with a friend from MA who is coming up to Samoset Resort tomorrow to use one of his several timeshare weeks there. He paid $199 out of pocket yesterday morning for a "rapid results" PCR COVID test, but then saw to his chagrin on yesterday's 6 o'clock news that the restriction on MA travelers had suddenly been lifted (just a very few hours before that newscast). This afternoon, he received his (negative, but now also completely unnecessary and irrelevant) test results.
So, he feels that he's "out" $200 (test is not covered by insurance when obtained by healthy people just for "travel" purposes) for no good reason --- before even getting in the car to come to Maine. In the interest of propriety, I will not repeat verbatim his exact words and sentiments for Maine Governor Janet Mills. I suspect that I may hear a bit more grousing about this matter out on the golf course, if / when we are able to get together there sometime next week.
Tiny Rhode Island apparently still remains on Maine's "restricted" list. I'm not sure which other states (if any) still maintain that dubious "unwelcome" distinction. Ironically, nine (Maine) people have died in the past few weeks (in Maine) from COVID infections acquired and spread at just one overcrowded (i.e., numbers in excess of figures authorized for group gatherings) Maine wedding held at the Millinocket Inn. Many other (Maine) people also became (non-fatally) infected as a result of just that one fiasco. It seems a bit hypocritical to exclude people from other states when people within Maine are knowingly and deliberately not complying with safety protocols, but what do I know?
I just spoke with a friend from MA who is coming up to Samoset Resort tomorrow to use one of his several timeshare weeks there. He paid $199 out of pocket yesterday morning for a "rapid results" PCR COVID test, but then saw to his chagrin on yesterday's 6 o'clock news that the restriction on MA travelers had suddenly been lifted (just a very few hours before that newscast). This afternoon, he received his (negative, but now also completely unnecessary and irrelevant) test results.
So, he feels that he's "out" $200 (test is not covered by insurance when obtained by healthy people just for "travel" purposes) for no good reason --- before even getting in the car to come to Maine. In the interest of propriety, I will not repeat verbatim his exact words and sentiments for Maine Governor Janet Mills. I suspect that I may hear a bit more grousing about this matter out on the golf course, if / when we are able to get together there sometime next week.
Tiny Rhode Island apparently still remains on Maine's "restricted" list. I'm not sure which other states (if any) still maintain that dubious "unwelcome" distinction. Ironically, nine (Maine) people have died in the past few weeks (in Maine) from COVID infections acquired and spread at just one overcrowded (i.e., numbers in excess of figures authorized for group gatherings) Maine wedding held at the Millinocket Inn. Many other (Maine) people also became (non-fatally) infected as a result of just that one fiasco. It seems a bit hypocritical to exclude people from other states when people within Maine are knowingly and deliberately not complying with safety protocols, but what do I know?
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