PORTLAND, Maine —  The Portland City Council voted March 30 to extend the State of Emergency and Stay at Home order until April 27.

The emergency stay at home order continues to have measures that apply to both residences and businesses, and is in response to the need to lessen the community spread of COVID-19, a global pandemic.

In addition to extending the City’s stay at home order, Portland has requested that landlords halt evictions of tenants who can show that their inability to pay rent is connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. The eviction amendment was brought by Councilor Ali and Councilor Thibodeau.

The Maine Judicial Court has suspended eviction cases until May 1, 2020.

Maine Equal Justice or Pine Tree Legal Services can advise tenants whose landlords threaten eviction between now and April 27.