PITTSTON — Officials at the Pittston Town Office said Monday the office would be closed for the rest of the day due to possible COVID-19 exposure concerns.
In addition, Gardiner city municipal buildings will be closed to the public at least until Feb. 1, extending a closure announced at the end of December.
The Pittston town government’s website said that the closure is out of an abundance of caution over possible exposure to the coronavirus.
“While we do not think that there has been direct contact by any of our staff with an individual that has tested positive and that individual is not in town government, we have to be very careful until we see test results that are negative,” the town’s post said.
No more than two individuals have been allowed inside the office at a given time, according to the town. The post advised that if closure is necessary after Monday, another announcement will be made.
“The safety and well being of our staff and residents are our highest priority” the post said.
Meanwhile, Gardiner City Manager Christine Landes announced an extended closure of town buildings to the public Monday, citing concerns about increase in reports of COVID-19 infections across central Maine, noting that the potential to unknowingly spread the virus continues.
To date, no city employees have been infected, Landes said Monday, but some have been exposed to the virus.
Landes is urging city residents to use the U.S. mail or the dropbox outside City Hall or to access city services through the city’s website at www.gardinermaine.com. Some services can also be completed using the state’s website, maine.gov/informe.
City staff will continue to work during normal business hours and can be reached by phone or email.
The Gardiner Public Library will continue offering no contact “take-out” service through the window inside the vestibule, but patrons are asked to call ahead to secure library materials or seek other library services like library card renewals, copies, faxes and computer loans.
On Dec. 28, Landes announced that municipal buildings would be closed to the public out of concern for the anticipated increase in COVID-19 infections stemming from holiday gatherings and travel.
In the Gardiner-West Gardiner area of southeast corner of Kennebec County, 199 cumulative and probable cases have been reported through Jan. 3.
Landes said she and city officials, who have been meeting regularly throughout the pandemic, are expected to meet Jan. 25 to consider whether to extend the closure.
Since April, the City Council and other city boards and committees have been meeting virtually, and that’s expected to continue.
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