MAINE, USA — KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS
- As of Wednesday, 150 Mainers have died out of 7,077 total COVID-19 cases. 6,241 of these cases are confirmed by test and 836 are probable.
- 507 Mainers have been hospitalized, 5,686 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.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
The Maine CDC reported two additional deaths of people with COVID-19, bringing the state death toll to 150. One was a woman in her 80s from Franklin County, the other was a man in his 70s from Waldo County.
For the second straight day, Maine set a new single-day coronavirus case record. 151 additional cases were reported Wednesday.
Of the 7,077 total COVID-19 cases in Maine, 6,241 are confirmed by test and 836 are probable.
Among Maine's total cases are 1,209 healthcare workers.
507 Mainers have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illnesses. 36 people in Maine are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, an increase of five people compared to Tuesday. 12 are being treated in intensive care units and two are on ventilators. Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said two weeks ago there were only seven people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Maine and none of them were in intensive care units or on ventilators.
Maine's hospitalization rate is about 2.7 hospitalizations per every 100,000 people. The national hospitalization rate is about 14 hospitalizations per every 100,000 people.
5,686 Mainers have recovered from COVID-19.
New Outbreaks
Maine CDC has opened outbreak investigations into the following facilities:
- Calais Regional Hospital, where they are aware of six cases
- Advanced Health Physical Therapy in Augusta, where they are aware of three cases among staff members
- The CrossFit Casco Bay Undaunted gym in Augusta, where they are aware of three patrons who have tested positive
- The Hope Baptist Church in Manchester, where they are aware of five cases
The Advanced Health Physical Therapy, CrossFit Casco Bay Undaunted, and Hope Baptist Church facilities are all in Kennebec County, which Dr. Shah said is a concerning sign.
Maine DHHS announced Wednesday that it has closed the Maine CDC building at 286 Water St. to the public after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The building has been cleaned and sanitized per guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and will reopen as soon as possible.
Although four floors have been closed to employees as the investigation continues, Dr. Shah said it will not affect Maine CDC's operations.
Where Maine stands in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE)
To date, Maine CDC's Public Health Emergency Preparedness Team has distributed 2,957,488 pieces of PPE to healthcare providers and other first responders across the state.
Right now, Maine CDC has the following amounts of PPE in stock:
- About 350,000 N95 masks
- Almost 3,000,000 surgical masks
- More than 2,000,000 gloves
Dr. Shah said Maine has a "robust supply," however, Maine CDC is always taking stock and analyzing it to make sure the state is well-positioned to respond to the virus and keep patients and healthcare workers safe going forward.
"Supply and availability are always a concern, given that it's not just Maine that's surging, it's the entire country as well as other continents," Dr. Shah said. "Where we are right now, I don't anticipate that there will be a shortage of PPE but that's because of the advanced planning that we've done."
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