In response to large numbers of reservation cancellations at the resort town's hotels for summer 2020, a Mount Desert Island task force organized by the Bar Harbor Chamber is working on its own alternative to ME Gov. Mills's requirement that persons entering or re-entering the state self-quarantine for 14 days.

The Mills Administration has itself proposed an alternative plan called "Keep ME Healthy" - currently being reviewed by State and tourism-industry officials - which would permit persons who can show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test to enter Maine without quarantining. But the form of proof and limits of recency have yet to be resolved.

The Mount Desert Island group faults the "Keep ME Healthy" plan on concerns about availability and reliability of out-of-state testing, and the willingness of potential visitors to undergo the inconvenience and cost of getting tested for the sole purpose of visiting Maine.

The Chamber's alternative plan, which it plans to put before Gov. Mills next week, is said to involve periodic testing of customer-facing workers, in order to detect and control the beginnings of any spread of COVID-19 in the community.

How will this play out? Stay tuned.