State of Maine Requirements
~ updated 03/22/2021 ~
Under Moving Maine Forward, the state will:
1. Maintain the COVID-19 health and safety protocols implemented through the COVID-19 Prevention Checklists.
The plan targets March 26 to resume indoor service at bars, distilleries and tasting rooms.
2. Establish straightforward and consistent capacity percentages for indoor and outdoor gatherings.
Physical distancing and face-covering requirements remain in effect, per COVID-19 Prevention Checklists.
Note: Businesses with more capacity under the current limits -- 50 people for indoor gatherings, 100 people for outdoor gatherings, or 5 people per 1,000 square feet -- are permitted to maintain that standard until May 24.
3. Update travel policies established last summer.
1. Maintain the COVID-19 health and safety protocols implemented through the COVID-19 Prevention Checklists.
The plan targets March 26 to resume indoor service at bars, distilleries and tasting rooms.
2. Establish straightforward and consistent capacity percentages for indoor and outdoor gatherings.
- Effective March 26: The capacity limit for indoor gatherings will increase to 50 percent, and outdoor gatherings to 75 percent.
- Effective May 24: The capacity limit for indoor gatherings will increase to 75 percent, and outdoor gatherings to 100 percent.
Physical distancing and face-covering requirements remain in effect, per COVID-19 Prevention Checklists.
Note: Businesses with more capacity under the current limits -- 50 people for indoor gatherings, 100 people for outdoor gatherings, or 5 people per 1,000 square feet -- are permitted to maintain that standard until May 24.
3. Update travel policies established last summer.
- Effective March 5: Travel from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are exempted from Maine’s test or quarantine requirement, joining Vermont and New Hampshire. People who have either had COVID-19 in the previous 90 days, or are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, regardless of state of origin, are now exempted from Maine’s test or quarantine requirement. Federal requirements related to international travel, however, remain in effect.
- Effective May 1: Shift Maine’s COVID-19 travel policy to automatically exempt all states, unless otherwise determined by the Maine CDC. If one or more states see a spike in cases of highly contagious COVID-19 variants, Maine will apply its test or quarantine requirement to travelers to and from that state.
Safety Measures @ Highland
As new research and best practices become available, we will update our policies accordingly. We have implemented the policies and procedures based on mandates and recommendations from the State of Maine and the CDC, which enhance the safety and wellbeing of our hotel guests and employees. We assume, on a daily basis, that all guests and staff could have Covid, and therefor practice safe standards including social distancing, masks and other safety protocols listed below.
Reservations
In closing we want you all to know we appreciate your support both past and present. Regardless of where you choose to vacation this summer, please drink up the beauty of nature and fill your mind and heart with loving kindness.
Reservations
- Anyone needing to cancel reservations due to the coronavirus please contact us as soon as possible.
- While as a small, seasonal business, we are greatly affected by cancellations, we understand the gravity of Covid and want our guests to be reassured they will not lose their money due to infection. In the event you need to cancel due to a positive Covid test or any other Covid related issue, any non-refundable deposit will be applied for a future stay within 12 months from your original reservation.
- We offer a contact-less check-in procedure where guests can pay and check-in over the phone rather than going to our main office. In the event guests need to visit the office we have Plexiglas barriers in place as well as complementary face coverings.
- We offer 23 rooms located on five-acres with 400 ft of waterfront. Additionally, we do not to have any interior hallways or corridors in the hotel. There are two places for indoor Throughout the grounds there are various outdoor seating areas to support safe small group gatherings.
- We have 22 hand sanitizer dispensers located around the resort (outside the entrances to the hotel rooms, the conference room, office, game room and gym). Our commercial grade disinfectants are used to clean hard & soft surfaces in the rooms and throughout the property. We also utilize Ultraviolet Light sanitizing wands to add an additional level of sanitation in our hotel rooms.
- Masks are mandatory in our office and when using the when walking to the sauna or gym. We provide complimentary masks if you don't have one. The rest of the property easily allows individuals to stay more than six feet apart. Please respect that distance at all times.
- All our employees are required to go through Covid-19 training & certification. Some of the measures we employ include mandated face coverings, physical distancing, cleaning, and disinfecting protocols.
- Daily housekeeping services are not offered for brief stays unless requested.
- To minimize the interaction between our employees and guests, we will provide guests with the supplies outside their rooms as needed. There are tags in the rooms where guests can select daily what supplies they want in their room, i.e. coffee, clean linens, tissues, etc.
- Employees are not permitted in hotel rooms when guests are present.
- The use of our gym, game room and sauna are permitted one guest group at a time with a 1.5 hr. limit to give other guest an opportunity to use them.
- Boats can be checked out over the phone and the front desk attendants will leave paddles and life jackets outside the office for guests as needed.
- We have 22 hand sanitizer dispensers located around the resort (outside the entrances to the hotel rooms, the conference room, office, game room and gym). Our commercial grade disinfectants are used to clean hard & soft surfaces in the rooms and throughout the property. You will find a half dozen buckets throughout the property with spray bottles and rags for disinfecting surfaces (we replenish daily).
- To address the growing demand for dining on site we purchased six new picnic tables, three new firepits and two new grills to accommodate guests needs.
In closing we want you all to know we appreciate your support both past and present. Regardless of where you choose to vacation this summer, please drink up the beauty of nature and fill your mind and heart with loving kindness.
A.) State of Maine Covid19 policy:
https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy/
B.) State of Maine Certificate of Compliance form:
https://www.maine.gov/decd/sites/maine.gov.decd/files/inline-files/KeepMaineHealthy_GuestComplianceCertificate.pdf
C.) To find the nearest COVID-19 testing in your area: https://get-tested-covid19.org/
Maine's Covid-19 Response:
https://www.maine.gov/covid19/
Trip Advisor:
https://www.smartertravel.com/covid-19-travel-options-need-to-know/
Centers for Disease Control:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine/keepmainehealthy/
B.) State of Maine Certificate of Compliance form:
https://www.maine.gov/decd/sites/maine.gov.decd/files/inline-files/KeepMaineHealthy_GuestComplianceCertificate.pdf
C.) To find the nearest COVID-19 testing in your area: https://get-tested-covid19.org/
Maine's Covid-19 Response:
https://www.maine.gov/covid19/
Trip Advisor:
https://www.smartertravel.com/covid-19-travel-options-need-to-know/
Centers for Disease Control:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Certificate of Compliance Requirements
Residents from certain States may be required to complete a Certificate of Compliance form. In the event your State is currently mandated to comply, the following form is required and needs to be filled out prior to checking- in. By completing the form, the guest certifies the following information:
What does Quarantine mean?
The State of Maine allows guests traveling to quarantine at our Resort so long as guests follow Maine CDC’s guidelines for quarantine (see below). Guests are permitted to walk around outside including the waterfront so long as they stay 6+ feet away from other guests.
“Quarantine refers to the separation of a person from others for a designated period because that person may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus but is not currently symptomatic. There is the chance that the person exposed may develop COVID-19 infection in the 14 days following exposure and could infect others. Quarantine starts from date of the person’s last exposure to the individual with COVID-19. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they have the virus.
For both self-quarantine and self-isolation:
The State will allow adults (18 yrs. old or older) who obtain and receive a negative COVID-19 test from a specimen taken no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival to forgo the 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Maine.
Guest requiring Quarantine:
“Isolation refers to the separation of a person from others for a designated period because that person 1) is infected with the COVID-19 virus and has tested positive, or 2) is probably infected because they are a close contact of a confirmed case and have symptoms, though they may not have been tested. For most individuals with COVID-19 infection, that period is 10 days or more, depending on resolution of symptoms.” - Maine CDC Quarantine Policy.
Residents from certain States may be required to complete a Certificate of Compliance form. In the event your State is currently mandated to comply, the following form is required and needs to be filled out prior to checking- in. By completing the form, the guest certifies the following information:
- All guests over 18 years old have received negative COVID-19 test results within 72 hours of arrival.
- If guests have not received negative tests, guests will quarantine in Maine for 10 days.
- Guests who have already completed their quarantine in Maine for 10 days are exempt.
- Guests must confirm that they have not been in contact with anyone who has confirmed to have Covid over the last 14 days.
- They have not experienced or displayed any Covid-19 symptoms in the last 24 hrs.
- At this time, those who have been fully vaccinated for Covid must adhere to the Maine Covid travel guidelines. A vaccination does not allow guests to bypass Maine testing and quarantine policies.
- Every member of the guest group, (except for anyone 18 yrs. old or younger) needs to be tested before coming to Maine.
- Testing for children under the age of 18 yrs. is not required.
- Maine does not accept an "antibody" test under the policy.
Maine does accept negative molecular and antigen-based test results to qualify for an exception to the 10-day quarantine rule and does not accept antibody testing for this purpose at this time.
- To find the nearest COVID-19 testing site in your area: https://get-tested-covid19.org/
What does Quarantine mean?
The State of Maine allows guests traveling to quarantine at our Resort so long as guests follow Maine CDC’s guidelines for quarantine (see below). Guests are permitted to walk around outside including the waterfront so long as they stay 6+ feet away from other guests.
“Quarantine refers to the separation of a person from others for a designated period because that person may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus but is not currently symptomatic. There is the chance that the person exposed may develop COVID-19 infection in the 14 days following exposure and could infect others. Quarantine starts from date of the person’s last exposure to the individual with COVID-19. Quarantine helps prevent spread of disease that can occur before a person knows they have the virus.
For both self-quarantine and self-isolation:
- Stay home.
- Do not go to public places even for essential reasons, including grocery stores. Plan to have enough food available or arrange to have it delivered to you to complete your quarantine/isolation.
- Do not use public transportation including buses, trains, planes, taxis, Lyft/Uber, etc.
- Do not have visitors in your home.
- Keep a distance of at least 6 feet from other people.”
- - Maine CDC Quarantine Policy https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/documents/2020PHADV037ChangesMaineQuarantinePo.pdf
The State will allow adults (18 yrs. old or older) who obtain and receive a negative COVID-19 test from a specimen taken no longer than 72 hours prior to arrival to forgo the 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Maine.
Guest requiring Quarantine:
- Any guest that has not been tested prior to arrival, will be required to quarantine at the Resort for 10 days (or the length of their visit, if less) upon arrival.
- If a guest has been tested but have not received their results, they will need to be in quarantine until the results are received, and they have tested negative. In consideration of other guests and to prevent the spread of Covid-19, guests are limited to the use of the waterfront only and will not have access to other amenities.
“Isolation refers to the separation of a person from others for a designated period because that person 1) is infected with the COVID-19 virus and has tested positive, or 2) is probably infected because they are a close contact of a confirmed case and have symptoms, though they may not have been tested. For most individuals with COVID-19 infection, that period is 10 days or more, depending on resolution of symptoms.” - Maine CDC Quarantine Policy.