MAINE, USA — Next update: Wednesday 11:00 a.m., conference at 2:00 p.m.
KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS
- 36 Mainers have died out of 888 confirmed COVID-19 cases
- 139 Mainers have been hospitalized, 443 Mainers have recovered
- Governor Janet Mills orders National Guard and MEMA to help open alternative coronavirus care sites in Portland and Bangor
- Governor Janet Mills has extended Maine's 'civil state of emergency'. She has also issued a 'Stay Safe at Home' order and ordered all out-of-staters coming to Maine to quarantine for 14 days.
- A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic in Maine
- 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 more resources available to Mainers
- Local businesses are the backbones of our communities. NEWS CENTER Maine cares about our state and asks that you support your local business and restaurants right now. 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.
LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
Next update: Wednesday 11:00 a.m., conference at 2:00 p.m.
TUESDAY APRIL 21
4 p.m.
- 'Ales for Insurance' helps pay for workers insurance during coronavirus closures
- UMF announces 2020 summer commencement celebration amid coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic
- Maine turkey hunting season to open 2 days early, requirement to register turkey suspended due to COVID-19
- Already vulnerable groups even more at-risk during COVID-19 pandemic, Maine CDC says
- “FrontLine WarmLine” launches to help Maine’s health care workers and first responders manage emotional toll of COVID-19
Maine CDC 2 p.m. Update
The Maine CDC announced on its website there are now 888 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state and 443 recovered cases.
Maine CDC also announced one additional death, bringing the state total to 36. The latest death was a man in his 80s from Cumberland County.
There are now more recovered cases (443) than active cases (409) in the state of Maine.
40 people in Maine who have tested positive are in the hospital, 16 of which are in intensive care. Eight people in Maine are on ventilators due to COVID-19.
215 health care workers have been affected by COVID-19. Dr. Nirav Shah, Director of the Maine CDC, announced a new "FrontLine WarmLine" for anyone who is directly responding to the pandemic across the state. It is a telephone line run by volunteers aimed at helping responders deal with the anxiety and stress that comes with being on the frontlines fighting the virus.
The numbers for the FrontLine WarmLine are (207) 221-8196 and 866-367-4440. It will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Maine’s health care professionals and first responders have worked tirelessly to protect Maine people in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Maine DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said. “We recognize that this work takes an emotional toll so we’re proud to support the FrontLine WarmLine as a resource offered by behavioral health peers who know how to help.”
There are 120 residents and 63 staff workers affiliated or associated with long term care facilities across the state who have been affected by COVID-19.
Maine CDC's current approximate personal protective equipment (PPE) inventory:
- 194,000 N95 masks
- 117,000 surgical masks
- 1,500 face shields
- 12,000 gloves
- 2,600 disposable protective suits
- 5,700 surgical gowns
Maine CDC delivered 26,000 pieces of PPE to various health care facilities and hospitals across the state on Monday. PPE has now been delivered to 1,070 health care facilities across the state since the coronavirus outbreak began.
12 p.m.
7 a.m.
- Mainers take to the streets to protest COVID-19 coronavirus business closures
- Landlords frustrated about executive order preventing eviction of tenants during coronavirus/COVID-19
- Adjusting to the disappointment of the 'new normal' caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19
- For the 9th time Team Kroot 'finishes' the Boston Marathon in time of coronavirus
- Valentine bandit shows the love for Maine healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus
- Ways you can celebrate Earth Day 2020 amid coronavirus social distancing
- Proposed bill would cancel rent and mortgages during COVID-19 pandemic
- Fauci says reopening too quickly will backfire
- Free app helps parents find engaging ideas for kids during quarantine
TAKE A MOMENT FOR 'A BREATH OF FRESH AIR'
RESOURCES
- Maine food resources and retail adjustments
- How to file for Maine unemployment
- 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'
- Maine school and business closings
- What shelter-in-place, stay-at-home orders mean
- What Homeland Security deems 'essential businesses'
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.