AUGUSTA– Maine Republican Party Chair, Dr. Demi Kouzounas, issued the following statement regarding Gov. Janet Mills’ new restrictive mandates:

“Once again Janet Mills has gone too far,” said Chair Dr. Demi Kouzounas. “Throughout her handling of this pandemic, Janet Mills has placed overburdensome restrictions on the people of Maine and our businesses with no clear direction.”

“While we agree it is important for Mainers to take precautions and keep themselves safe, instituting a mandatory mask mandate in all public spaces is beyond excessive. Under Mills’ mask order, if you’re walking in your neighborhood with nobody around or hunting by yourself in the woods, you will be required to wear a mask at all times. While Janet Mills does not appear to believe Mainers are intelligent enough to understand when they should wear a mask, we trust people to take necessary precautions and we believe Mainers should be treated like the intelligent, informed adults that they are.”

“In addition to her new mask mandate, Janet Mills is also reinstituting her gathering limits for Maine businesses. These limits have already had a devastating impact on small businesses, resulting in businesses from Kittery to Fort Kent to have to close their doors for good. By reinstating these restrictions and levying new mandates for the people of Maine, Janet Mills is leading our state toward economic ruin.”