As of Monday, masks are no longer required in most settings in Maine.
It s the first time in a little more than a year that face coverings aren t broadly mandated, though it s still recommended that people who aren t vaccinated against COVID-19 wear them indoors.
That means most businesses can now decide independently whether to continue to require masks and policies vary from place to place.
At the Blue Lobster gift shop in Freeport, owner Khaled Habash was grinning ear-to-ear Monday morning the first time in about a year that customers could actually see his smile. I m happy to not be wearing a mask today, he says.