Maine governor cautions against Super Bowl parties

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday urged local residents to opt out of parties and other large gatherings traditionally held for the big game. 

During a Thursday briefing with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Mills warned citizens not to let their guards down, especially as the state government has recorded a seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate below 3 percent in recent days. 

“As tempting as it is to go watch the game at your favorite watering hole or get together at someone else’s house, someone with a big-screen TV, please don’t forget the silent and ever-present danger of COVID-19,” Mills explained. “It could ruin your game and could even take your life.”

“COVID-19 is not taking Super Bowl Sunday off,” she added. 

The warning follows similar messages from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which issued updated guidelines late last month advising that “attending large gatherings like the Super Bowl increases your risk of getting and spreading COVID-19” and calling on fans to watch the game at home with members of their household. 

The CDC also added at the time that should fans decide to attend a Super Bowl gathering or watch party, they should practice social distancing and avoid crowded areas as well as determine ahead of time if the venue has “steps in place to prevent the spread of the virus.” 

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky also tweeted this week that the safest way to watch the Super Bowl amid the pandemic is to do so from home. 

She added, “If you choose to attend [the game] or a large watching event, stay as safe as possible.” 

Anthony Fauci, the White House COVID-19 response team’s chief medical adviser, on Wednesday issued similar remarks in an interview with NBC’s “Today” show, explaining that “there always is a spike” of new infections following a period of large gatherings. 

“As much fun as it is to get together in a big Super Bowl party, now is not the time to do that,” Fauci said. 

Maine on Saturday recorded 263 new coronavirus infections, bringing the state total to nearly 33,000 confirmed cases. A total of 634 people in the state have died as a result of the virus, with two additional fatalities reported Saturday. 

According to local CBS affiliate WABI, Mills on Thursday said that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had contacted her about sending fully vaccinated Maine health care workers on the team’s plane to Tampa for the Super Bowl and that four are now scheduled to go to the annual football event.