Protect Yourself and Your Communities During the Holidays
An urgent message from Healthy Acadia and the Downeast COVID-19 Task Force
December, 2021. COVID-19 cases are surging across our communities and state, hospitalizations and deaths are rising, and our healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, including in our region.
Here are key ways that you as a community member can help reduce the spread of COVID-19, to keep yourselves, your loved ones, and your communities safe.
1. Be up to date on your vaccines.
a. Make sure you’ve had your first full round: 2 shots for Moderna or Pfizer and 1 shot for Johnson & Johnson (J&J). If you get your first shot today, you’ll have some protection after about a week. The CDC recommends Moderna or Pfizer over J&J.
b. Make sure you are boosted when it is time (6 months after your last Moderna or Pfizer shot, or 2 months after your J&J shot). Protection from being boosted starts after about a week. Boosters are now recommended for all people, aged 16 and over. Moderna or Pfizer are recommended for all, including those who received J&J for their first round.
2. Mask in indoor public spaces to protect yourself and those around you. Make sure that your mask has a good fit around the nose, chin, and cheeks. Medical-grade masks provide additional protection. Mask braces can also add better fit.
3. Check in with the places you shop. If masks are not required, you can ask for curbside pickup, ask for certain times with masks required, and/or ask them to require masking at all times.
4. Choose thoughtfully when you gather. Being in crowded places increases your risk of catching COVID-19 and giving it to others
5. Take a COVID-19 test if you are gathering outside your household. This gives you valuable information to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Healthy Acadia has a limited supply of tests available at no cost to those who need them: click on this form to receive one, or call the Healthy Acadia vaccine help line at 207-271-6023 to pick up a test at one of our locations.
6. If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t host or attend a gathering. Stay home, get well, and keep others healthy.
7. Wash your hands often. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Here are key ways that you as a business can help reduce the spread of COVID-19, to keep yourselves, your employees, your customers, and your communities safe.
1. Encourage or require employees to be vaccinated.
2. Require universal masking at all times, including employees and customers.
3. Require universal masking at certain posted times, if masking at all times is not feasible.
4. Offer curbside pickup.
5. Ensure indoor spaces do not get crowded. allow for physical distancing among customers as well as employees.
6. Offer hand sanitizer in easily accessible places.
7. Ensure employees stay home if unwell.
8. Maximize ventilation with outside or HEPA filtered air.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
Individuals aged 5 years and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Individuals aged 16 years and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster if it has been at least six months since their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or at least two months since their single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
To find a vaccine site nearest you, click here. If you need help scheduling an appointment, call the Maine COVID-19 Community Vaccination Line at 1-888-445-4111.COVID-19 Testing
The state allows anyone over the age of 12 months to receive a test without a physician order or referral. It remains advised to contact your medical provider to determine whether you should be tested.
Click here to find your nearest testing location.
If you are planning to gather with family and friends this holiday season, we encourage you to plan ahead. Even if your immediate family is fully vaccinated, remember that your most vulnerable family members, particularly the very young, those over age 65, or the immunocompromised, may still be at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19.
Click here for ways you can help keep your loved ones safe this holiday season.