Two more people with COVID-19 have died in Maine, bringing the total number of deaths to 81.
The individuals who died were a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s, both from Cumberland County, according to Center for Disease Control Director Dr. Nirav Shah.
The state CDC is also reporting 28 additional cases Wednesday, for a total of 2,137. The number of active cases is 699.
Gov. Janet Mills spoke at a briefing Wednesday where she announced that restaurants in Cumberland, York and Androscoggin counties will not be able to open to dine-in service June 1, as originally scheduled in Mills' plan to reopen the state's economy. Mills said the change is necessary because of an increase in hospitalizations and cases of COVID-19 in those three counties.
"We believe this change is safer for the health of Maine people, and that it balances the economic needs of these businesses with the priority health care of Maine people."
Restaurants in the three counties are permitted to open for outdoor dining and continue curbside take out and delivery.
"It is our hope that by opening for outdoor dining that we can still protect the public health and perhaps lessen the economic hardship that these businesses are enduring," says Mills.
The targeted delay in restaurant reopenings is the only change to the next stage of Mills' economic plan.
Updated 3:57 p.m. May 27, 2020.
