A proclamation of a Civil State of Emergency, a stay-at-home order, and more important directives still in place amid the coronavirus pandemic in Maine.

AUGUSTA, Maine Editor's note: The above video is a NEWS CENTER Maine VERIFY on why the government requiring people to wear face masks does not violate constitutional rights.

It may feel like every day a new coronavirus, COVID-19 related order is put in place or an old one expiresit can get a little confusing. So, heres a list of the important orders that are still in place statewide you should know about.

Civil State of Emergency:

On Wednesday, July 8, Gov. Janet Mills extended the proclamation of a Civil State of Emergency for Maine 30 days through August 6. This was her fourth extension of the proclamation.

Its important to note this is separate from the stay-at-home orderwell go into the details of that order laterand theyre separate directives. The proclamation simply allows the State to continue to draw critical Federal funds and gives the State the ability to deploy all available resources to respond to the coronavirus pandemic in Maine.

Under Maine law, State of Civil Emergency Proclamations may only be issued in thirty-day increments.

The statewide stay-at-home order was put into effect on April 2. It was later extended to May 31, but just before it expired the Governor put a new order in place that eased the stay-at-home restrictions. This order is in effect until its rescinded.

Heres an outline of the eased order:

The order issued on June 9 deals with travelers coming into Maine. It says that all those who travel to Maine from other states, other than New Hampshire and Vermont, must either: have a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for 14-days upon arrival. Effective July 1, tourists will have to sign a certificate of compliance when they check into a hotel, motel, or other lodging confirming that they've had a COVID-19 test within the previous 72-hours and that it was negative.

On July 1 Mills expanded this exemption to include New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

An Executive Order was signed in April requiring face coverings in public places where physical distancing is difficult to maintain. Mills signed a new order on Wednesday, July 8 that strengthened the order already in place.

The order says large retail businesses, restaurants, outdoor bars, tasting rooms, and lodging establishments in Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, and York counties, as well as the municipalities of Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Brewer, and Lewiston must implement measures requiring customers to wear face coverings.

On Friday, July 17, Mills announced a series of steps her administration is taking to assist and support school systems across Maine as they consider whether and how to return to in-classroom instruction this fall.

The Maine Department of Education, in close partnership with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), has updated its Framework for Returning to Classroom Instruction to include health and safety precautions that all schools must follow if they decide to return to in-classroom instruction to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.

The Governor also announced that these science-based protocols, which follow national best practices and include the use of face coverings and physical distancing, will be financially supported by up to $165 million in Federal CARES Act funding that she has authorized to be distributed to school systems across Maine.

The Maine Department of Education has yet to release a final plan on schools reopening in the fall.

Restarting Maine's Economy:

On June 22, Mills delayed the reopening of bars for indoor service across Maine. Bars have been able to reopen for outdoor service and were tentatively scheduled to reopen for indoor service on July 1 as part of Stage 3 of the Restarting Maine's Economy Plan.

The Mills administration says, however, that given the elevated health risk presented by bars, the timeline to allow indoor service is postponed "until further notice."

Restaurants in all counties were able to reopen for dine-in service on June 17.

State 1 (all counties): May

Construction, drive-in theaters, health care, outdoor recreation, personal services like dog grooming and hair salons, outdoor fitness classes, real estate, religious gatherings, car dealerships and car washes, and transportation.

Stage 1 (Rural counties): May/June

May 11: retail businesses

May 18: Restaurants for dine-in and outdoor service, campsites and sporting camps

June 12: Bars and tasting rooms (outdoor service only), Tattoo, Body Piercing, Electrolysis, and Micropigmentation Establishments

While previously limited to 10 people, group gatherings can now consist of up to 50 people (with physical distancing regulations still in place). Groups traveling in a vehicle should still consist only of people living in the same home. Employees in legal and professional fields may return to offices, including State employees, as needed.

List of services and business allowed to reopen under Stage 2:

Stage 3 maintains the prohibition on gatherings of more than 50 people and the 14-day quarantine or the alternative set out in the Keep Maine Healthy plan on people entering Maine. All businesses that have been open may remain open.

There is no set date for when bars and tasting rooms for dine-in service can reopen.

Other industries and businesses may reopen by following checklist standards.

Outdoor recreation:Overnight charter boats, excursions fewer than 50 people, and overnight summer Camps

The Governor and MaineHousing extended the Rent Relief Program that was put into place due to the coronavirus pandemic. The program, established in April, allows households that meet certain income and ability to pay requirements to receive a one-time, up to $500 payment in rental assistance to be paid directly to their landlord. With the extension, the program now covers rent for the months of April, May, or June.

The order also prevents the immediate eviction of tenants other than those who engage in dangerous or unlawful conduct for the duration of the state of emergency.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of the Governor's Executive Orders.

At NEWS CENTER Maine, were focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the illness. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here:/coronavirus

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