The Maine Legislature has postponed meetings of the full House and Senate that were scheduled next week at the Augusta Civic Center after two lawmakers tested positive for COVID-19.

The Legislature’s Executive Director, Suzanne Gresser, said Friday the delay is out of “an abundance of caution,” and the two cases were unrelated to each other.

Gresser said the Legislature’s presiding officers, Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, and House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, made the decision after a second lawmaker tested positive following the Legislature’s April 28th floor session at the civic center.

Lawmakers were notified of the first case in an earlier memo from Jackson and Fecteau.

“We are extremely happy to report that our friend and colleague is asymptomatic and feeling well, and we send our very best wishes,” Jackson and Fecteau said in a letter to lawmakers Thursday. The session that was set for next Thursday has been rescheduled for May 19.

Jackson and Fecteau said in their letter that no additional information would be released to protect members’ medical privacy. One other person who was deemed a close contact of one of the infected lawmakers under federal CDC guidelines was also notified, the letter said.


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