OOB busy during first weekend without travel restrictions

On May 2, 2021

THROUGH A LOT AS WELL, AND IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME FOR THEM TO GET BACK UP TO SPEED. STARTING TODAY, PANDEMIC TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS – LOOSENED IN MAINE. VISITORS TO OUR STATE NO LONGER HAVE TO QUARANTINE OR SHOW A NEGATIVE COVID TEST. THIS WAS WELCOME NEWS TO MAINE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DEPEND ON TOURISM. AN OLD ORCHARD BEACH PIZZA SHOP OWNER SAID WITH MORE MAINERS GETTING VACCINATED – THERE’S A SENSE OF HOPE. <> “WE GOT THROUGH IT, THAT’S ALL YOU CAN DO. WHEN YOU HAVE A BUSINESS YOU JUST HAVE TO KEEP TRUDGING FORWARD.” BUTTED “IM JUST GLAD. IM JUST GLAD THAT THERE’S A SENSE OF HOPE, THAT PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT AND THAT THINGS ARE CALMING DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND WE’RE GOING TO GET SOME SORT OF NORMALCY IN OUR LIVES BACK AGAIN.” AT O-O-B TODAY, THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE INCREASE OF PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT, CHECKING OUT SHOPS

Coastal communities known to attract tourists saw a relatively busy Saturday, the first day without travel restrictions in more than a year. Beginning May 1, Maine is no longer requiring people traveling to the state to quarantine or get a negative COVID-19 test.In Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, many people were out walking, visiting shops and restaurants, and even playing arcade games. “We got through it; that’s all you can do. When you have a business, you just have to keep trudging forward,” said Gladys Libertella, co-owner of Rocco’s Pizza in Old Orchard Beach. Libertella said she is glad Mainers are getting vaccinated because so many businesses, including hers, have suffered over the past year. “I’m just glad that there’s a sense of hope, that people are coming out and that things are calming down a little bit, and we’re going to get some sort of normalcy in our lives back again.”The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that while visitors from all states will be welcome as of Saturday, restrictions could be tightened again if travelers are coming from states that have been determined to be a hotspot for COVID-19 variants.

Coastal communities known to attract tourists saw a relatively busy Saturday, the first day without travel restrictions in more than a year.

Beginning May 1, Maine is no longer requiring people traveling to the state to quarantine or get a negative COVID-19 test.

In Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, many people were out walking, visiting shops and restaurants, and even playing arcade games.

“We got through it; that’s all you can do. When you have a business, you just have to keep trudging forward,” said Gladys Libertella, co-owner of Rocco’s Pizza in Old Orchard Beach.

Libertella said she is glad Mainers are getting vaccinated because so many businesses, including hers, have suffered over the past year.

“I’m just glad that there’s a sense of hope, that people are coming out and that things are calming down a little bit, and we’re going to get some sort of normalcy in our lives back again.”

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that while visitors from all states will be welcome as of Saturday, restrictions could be tightened again if travelers are coming from states that have been determined to be a hotspot for COVID-19 variants.

OOB busy during first weekend without travel restrictions

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