Big Moose Inn Issued Health Hazard Citation For COVID-19 Outbreak

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday delivered an "imminent health hazard citation" to the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket for exceeding the indoor gathering limit of 50 people amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the MCDC, said the Big Moose Inn hosted a wedding reception on Aug. 7 with approximately 65 people.

To date, 32 cases of the virus are associated with the wedding and reception. Twenty six cases are confirmed. Six are probable.

On Friday, Millincoket Regional Hospital reported one person, an elderly female, associated with the outbreak had died at the hospital.

Five of those infected are from Somerset County and the remainder are from Penobscot County. Those infected range in age from four years old to 78 years old. Seven of the cases are among those under 18 years old, Shah said.

About 87 percent of those who tested positive after the event have symptoms of the disease.

Shah said the citation is a warning that directs the owners to follow all state guidelines for coronavirus prevention. Shah said the inn's owners, upon receiving the citation, agreed to abide by all state guidelines.

There is no financial penalty associated with the citation, but subsequent violations could result in financial penalties, Shah said.

It is the first time an establishment in Maine has been issued a citation for violating state restrictions put in place to combat the coronavirus.

The investigation is ongoing.