MAINE, USA — KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS
- As of Sunday, 152 Mainers have died out of 7,693 total COVID-19 cases. 6,843 of these cases are confirmed by test and 850 are probable.
- 525 Mainers have been hospitalized, 5,935 Mainers have recovered.
- Stage 3 began on July 1; here are the Stage 3 reopening checklists for businesses
- VERIFY: Requirement to wear a face mask does not violate constitutional rights
- Maine is open for business, here's what you need to know
- Read about all the important coronavirus-related orders currently in place in Maine
- Going out? CDC shares tips to stay safe amid coronavirus pandemic
- Gov. Mills' administration releases guidance for town meetings and elections during COVID-19 pandemic
- Filing for unemployment still dominating discussions around Maine. Here's our story on how to file for Maine unemployment. You can scroll down for more resources available to Mainers
- If you are a business owner, please register your business. If you want to support a local business, enter your zip code and find out what’s OPEN NEAR YOU.
- Subscribe to 'break time with NEWS CENTER Maine' our new newsletter. Delivered to your email inbox for your break time.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
The Maine CDC reported two additional deaths of Mainers with COVID-19. The additional deaths reported are a man in his 70s from Somerset County and a woman in her 80s from Somerset County. The state death toll is now at 152.
The Maine CDC reported 159 additional cases Saturday.
Of the 7,603 total COVID-19 cases in Maine, 6,762 are confirmed by test and 841 are probable.
523 Mainers have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illnesses.
5,906 Mainers have recovered from COVID-19.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
The Maine CDC did not report any additional deaths of people with COVID-19. The state death toll remains at 150.
The Maine CDC reported 184 additional cases Friday, marking the fourth straight day that Maine CDC has reported a new single-day record for cases. 183 additional cases were reported Thursday, 151 additional cases were reported Wednesday, and 127 additional cases were reported Tuesday.
Of the 7,444 total COVID-19 cases in Maine, 6,565 are confirmed by test and 879 are probable.
513 Mainers have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illnesses; 37 are currently in the hospital, 14 of whom are in the ICU, and three of whom are on a ventilator. Two weeks ago, just eight people were in the hospital, and none were in the ICU or on ventilators.
5,830 Mainers have recovered from COVID-19.
Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday an executive order requiring Maine people to wear face coverings in public settings, regardless of the ability to maintain physical distance.
Additionally, owners and operators of all indoor public settings in Maine must now post plainly visible signs notifying entrants of the requirement to wear cloth face coverings and may deny service or entry for non-compliance.
Outbreak Updates
"The risk is everywhere around us, not just at locations where outbreaks may be occurring," Dr. Nirav Shah said Friday during the coronavirus briefing.
In the past two days, the Maine CDC has opened the following outbreak investigations:
- Walpole woodworkers site in Pittsfield: Cases have been identified in nine staff members.
- Sunrise Opportunities, an assisted living facility in Machias: Four residents and one staff member have tested positive.
- Waldo County General Hospital: Cases detected among four staff members.
After Friday's briefing, the Maine CDC became aware of additional COVID-19 cases associated with an outbreak investigation at Russell Park Rehabilitation and Living Center in Lewiston. The facility’s case count now includes 44 residents and 20 staff. Testing is ongoing, so additional cases could be identified during the weekend. Maine CDC's outbreak response team is working with Russell Park staff to arrange further testing, provide PPE, and to make sure appropriate infection protocols are in place.
Testing Metrics
Maine's seven-day positivity rate now stands at 1.73%. To put that number in perspective, Shah says two weeks ago, that number was 0.54%—meaning the positivity rate in Maine has more than tripled in just two weeks.
Two weeks is one complete incubation period for the virus, where the virus can spread from person to person. Shah says this is why he refers to things in two-week blocks.
Maine's current testing volume for PCR tests stands at 558 tests for every 100,000 people across the state.
Shah says the cumulative (March through the present) average number of close contacts from cases has been 3.5, with a range of no close contacts to 174 close contacts. Shah says, however, just in the month of October alone, the number of those cases' close contacts was 5.8, significantly higher.
Shah says this number tells us a few things: people are out and about much more than they were earlier in the pandemic, but it also provides us a glimpse about how the nature of the pandemic now differs from the spring. Shah says because on average, people who are diagnosed now have more close contacts, it's statistically likely they will have transmitted COVID-19 to more people than they would have earlier on in the pandemic.
Shah says the bottom line is that the coronavirus situation in Maine continues to show rapidly expanding community transmission.
"18% of all of the COVID-19 cases in Maine have occurred just in the past two weeks, and sadly it's not slowing down. Indeed, it's just the opposite," Shah said.
"Today's cases in the community can turn into tomorrow's clusters in the community, which a few days after that, can turn into outbreaks in the community," Shah said.
Shah says this increase in cases presents risks to those in settings more vulnerable to outbreaks, such as long term care facilities, hospitals, and schools.
"That's why one of the best things that each and every person who is watching today can do to keep vulnerable members of our society safe is to take steps today to keep yourself safe, because every case today can turn into an outbreak tomorrow as the rates of community transmission continue to increase."
Maine DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew
Lambrew says the state has updated its guidance for community sports with the Maine Principals' Association's school sports guidance. She says they have heard concerns of loopholes are allowing community spread, so they are changing a number of requirements in their community sports guidelines checklist.
The Checklist for Community Sports has been updated to reflect the winter schedule. Effective Friday, the recommendations in the checklist for the levels of allowable play are now requirements, and participants in community sports must wear face coverings during practices and competition, in line with Governor Mills’ new Executive Order. Maine DHHS says experience in different states with fall sports shows that face coverings can be safely and effectively worn during competition.
As with fall community sports, specific sports are categorized as low, medium, or high risk and assigned corresponding levels of play. The six levels of play are assigned based on the activity level’s own risk (ranging from skill-building to competition), protocols to allow activity to happen safely, and circumstances with COVID-19 in Maine.
The winter start dates for these levels are as follows:
- December 7, 2020: Level 1: Skills and drills sessions at home, alone or with household members
- December 14, 2020: Level 2-3: Practices and competitions (e.g. intra-squad scrimmages) within teams
- January 11, 2021: Level 4: Competition among teams from the same geographic area
The start dates of December 7 and January 11 allow for time to pass after holidays when people may be traveling or at gatherings that increase the risk of COVID-19 spread. Start dates for Levels 5 and 6 of competition will be determined in January. The January 11 start date for Level 4 competition will also be reviewed in early January based upon the status of the public health situation at that time. This winter sports schedule is similar to that adopted by Vermont and New Hampshire.
The Community Sports Checklist applies to community-based sports clubs, teams, and events. It does not apply to professional and collegiate sports, which are governed by professional and intercollegiate association guidelines as well as applicable Executive Orders.
Shah reiterated that Mills' new mask mandate that face-coverings must be worn in public spaces is a common-sense measure.
“The bottom line is: widespread masking would have a rapid and significant impact on the rates of transmission of COIVD-19 across the state and across the country," Shah said.
MORE:
RESOURCES
- Maine food resources and retail adjustments
- How to file for Maine unemployment
- Beginning of plan to reopen Maine schools
- Will you get a stimulus check if you receive Social Security or disability, or didn’t file a tax return?
- Stimulus check calculator: See how much you'll likely be getting
- Millions of Americans will soon get stimulus checks. But here's who won't.
- Maine small businesses can apply for 'forgivable loans'
Coronavirus, COVID-19 Background
The official name for the coronavirus is “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes is named “coronavirus disease 2019” or “COVID-19” for short. Coronavirus is a family of viruses, which can infect people and animals. The viruses can cause the common cold or more serious diseases like SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.
The CDC says symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and in some cases sore throat.
The CDC says there are simple steps to take to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay home while you're sick and avoid close contact with others
The Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is holding coronavirus briefings on Tuesdays and Thursdays with director Dr. Nirav Shah to keep the public up to date on the situation in Maine