University of Maine System Responses and Accommodations for High School Students

New Guidelines for FMLA in Regards to COVID-19

We are receiving updates as The Maine Department of Education is working directly with Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor this evolving situation. We will continue to provide new information to the community as things change.

What is Known

• The virus causing COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified and causes respiratory illness ranging from mild cold-like symptoms to severe pneumonia.
• Similar to influenza, the people who are most likely to have severe disease and complications from COVID-19 are older individuals (>60 years old) and those with other medical conditions like heart and lung disease or diabetes.
• There is no vaccine or treatment currently available for COVID-19 but the National Institute of Health is evaluating treatments and developing a vaccine already.

How the Virus Spreads

• COVID-19 is believed to spread primarily the same way the common cold or flu spreads--through respiratory droplets that are produced when someone coughs or sneezes.
• People who are most at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 are those who have been in close contact (within about 6 feet) with someone who has the disease.
• People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
• Some spread of the virus might be possible before a person has symptoms; there have been reports of this with COVID-19, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.