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Real-time Maine coronavirus updates: Tuesday, August 25

Find developments on the Maine coronavirus, COVID-19 outbreak as we work together to separate facts from fear. Tuesday, August 25, 2020.

MAINE, USA — KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

The Maine CDC reported zero additional deaths of people with COVID-19, meaning the state death total remains at 131.

Of the 4,368 total COVID-19 cases in Maine, 3,919 are confirmed by test and 449 are probable.

410 Mainers have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illness. Eight people in Maine are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19, with five people being treated in intensive care units and one on a ventilator.

Maine's hospitalization rate is less than one person hospitalized per every 100,000 Maine people, according to Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah. Dr. Shah said the national hospitalization rate is 15 people hospitalized per every 100,000 people.

3,784 Mainers have recovered from COVID-19.

Millinocket wedding/reception outbreak leads to outbreak at Madison nursing home

Maine CDC said there are now 60 positive cases among people associated with a wedding and wedding reception in Millinocket on August 7.

According to Dr. Shah, of these 60 cases:

  • 22 are primary cases, meaning they're among people who attended the wedding or the reception.
  • 14 are secondary, meaning they're among close contacts of people who attended the wedding or the reception.
  • 24 are tertiary, meaning they're among close contacts of people who are secondary contacts.

Dr. Shah said an outbreak at the Maplecrest Rehabilitation Center in Madison stems from the outbreak at the Millinocket wedding reception. A guest who attended the wedding on August 7 infected their parent. The parent then had contact with one of their other children, who works at Maplecrest. The person who works at Maplecrest then infected five people - four residents and one additional staff member.

Dr. Shah said all of this unfolded in a span of about two and a half weeks.

"That's just an example of how quickly this virus can spread. From a wedding to a guest to a parent to another child to a nursing home," Dr. Shah said.

There are currently six total cases at Maplecrest - four among residents and two among staff.

York County Sheriff's Office outbreak update

There are now a total of 18 cases associated with the York County Sheriff's Office and York County Jail.

Seven of these cases are among inmates at the jail, nine are among staff members at the jail, and two are among staff members who work closely with York County government in the same complex.

Maine CDC said a staff member of the York County Jail attended the wedding/reception in Millinocket on August 7. Maine CDC said that staff member was one of the first confirmed cases at the jail.

"These recent examples are restaurant-quality pieces of information that demonstrate how aggressive and how opportunistic this virus is. And how quickly it can move from one community to another, even if those communities are miles apart separated by multiple counties in between," Dr. Shah said. "What we've learned about COVID-19 is it can be the uninvited guest at every single wedding, party, or event in Maine. The virus is where we are and then it comes home with us."

Fire departments outbreak

Maine CDC is reporting four current cases linked to the Sanford, Saco, and Buxton Fire Departments. 

Colby College outbreak

Maine CDC has opened an investigation into an outbreak at Colby College, after the college reported five cases among students and staff. Maine CDC is reporting four cases at Colby College.

University of Maine System outbreak

Maine CDC has opened an investigation into five cases across the UMaine System - four at the Orono campus and one at the law school.

Dr. Shah said Maine CDC's investigation aims to determine any linkages between cases at both schools.

Credit: NCM

MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Maine CDC released the newest numbers today:

  • CASES: 4,356
  • DEATHS: 131
  • RECOVERED: 3,762
  • HOSPITALIZATIONS: 409

WEEKEND UPDATES

THE DATA

RESOURCES

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) announced on Tuesday, March 10 that they would be holding daily coronavirus briefings with director Dr. Nirav Shah to keep the public up to date on the situation in Maine

NEWS CENTER Maine YouTube COVID-19 Playlist

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