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Real-time coronavirus, COVID-19 updates: Monday, May 11

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

MAINE, USA — EVERY NUMBER IS A LIFE: Celebrating the life of loved ones during the faceless anonymity of Maine coronavirus COVID fatalities. 

KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS

LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

MONDAY, MAY 11

2 p.m.

A man in his 70s from Cumberland County is the 65th individual who has died with COVID-19. 

There was an increase of 26 cases since Sunday for a total of 1,462. Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah says there are currently 37 individuals hospitalized, 17 of which are in intensive care and nine are on ventilators. 

There are 315 health care workers who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Dr. Shah says there are three new outbreaks: The Maple House in Portland with three cases, the Residential Community Support Service Group in Sanford with four cases, and the Granite Bay Care facility in Brunswick with three cases. 

The Maple House is a campus of Spurwink, a facility for kids that provides behavioral health and education services.

Dr. Shah gives updates for the other outbreaks in Maine:

  • Augusta Center for Health and Rehabilitation: 48 residents and 28 staff have tested positive, and seven have died. 
  • Edgewood Rehabilitation & Living Center in Farmington: 13 residents and six staff have tested positive, and one has died. 
  • Hope House in Bangor: 18 residents and four staff members have tested positive.
  • Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough: 32 residents and 23 staff have tested positive, and 13 have died. 
  • Springbrook Center in Westbrook: 17 residents and eight staff members have tested positive.
  • Tall Pines in Waldo County: 32 residents and 11 staff have tested positive, and 13 have died. 
  • The Cedars in Portland: 11 residents and six staff members have tested positive, and one has died.
  • Tyson food plant in Portland: There are 51 total workers affiliated with the plant who have COVID-19.

Dr. Shah says just in the past few days there has been a total of 21 psychological first aid training sessions. There are now 531 individuals who are trained to provide counseling and spiritual care services for people—a family member, a patient, or a health care worker—affected by COVID-19. More training will be done in the coming weeks.

"All too often in outbreaks—in any emergency situation—we focus on the body, but these are important reminders that we must also focus on the mind as well," Dr. Shah said. 

12 p.m.

The Maine CDC is reporting one additional death, bringing the state total to 65. There is a total of 1,462 cases: 1,328 are confirmed and 134 are probable. 872 have recovered and 200 have been hospitalized at some point during their illness.

Credit: NCM

Note: In addition to these cases, there are six whose counties are unknown.

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WEEKEND UPDATES

THE DATA

Dr. Nirav Shah made clear that when the Maine CDC reports deaths, they are reporting that someone has died who had been confirmed positive with COVID-19, not the cause of death specifically. The cause of death determination is left to the medical examiner.  

According to Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah, as of a few days ago, there were roughly 2,900 Mainers tested each week. This includes people tested through the state lab in Augusta, as well as large commercial testing companies like LabCorp. Dr. Shah said right now, the positivity rate is over 5%, meaning for every 100 people tested, about 5 or 6 are positive. Compared to other states, whose positivity rates are 10 or 15%, Maine is doing better, Dr. Shah says. He says he'd like to see Maine's positivity rate around 2%, which is what South Korea's is. To do that, Dr. Shah says testing must increase two or three-fold.

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MAINE CDC BRIEFINGS

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 Coronavirus Playlist

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