KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS
- 47 Mainers have died out of 965 confirmed COVID-19 cases
- 152 Mainers have been hospitalized, 499 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.
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LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
SATURDAY APRIL 25
Maine CDC should release updated coronavirus numbers sometime Saturday afternoon
FRIDAY APRIL 24
2 p.m. Maine CDC Update
The Maine CDC announced three new deaths of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the state total to 47.
There are now 965 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maine and 499 recovered cases. Of the 965 confirmed cases, two are probable, which means someone who is very closely linked to someone who is a confirmed case, such as a spouse.
152 people in Maine have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illness. 39 people in Maine are currently hospitalized due to the virus. Of those 39, 17 are in critical care and 7 are on ventilators.
Maine CDC is working to train National Guard members to safely and effectively use personal protective equipment (PPE). Those National Guard members will then travel to health care facilities across the state to train and inform people about proper PPE use.
Dr. Shah took a moment to acknowledge the grief that the family members and loved ones of those who have passed due to COVID-19 are experiencing, as well as the caregivers who may have been treating them.
"Whether those are long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities or others, these caregivers have befriended and cared for these individuals in some cases for years and years and years. They too are coping with and mourning the passing of their friends," Dr. Shah said.
Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Linda Fortman addressed the thousands of Mainers that are waiting for their unemployment benefits.
"Over 100,000 people who who were working at the beginning of March, have since applied for unemployment insurance benefits," said Fortman. "The good news is that two-thirds of those that have applied, are now receiving benefits."
"That being said, I know that there are still too many people who have applied for benefits and were awaiting for their applications to be approved. We looked at about 19,000 people that would be have normally been scheduled for fact-finding. If we took the normal course of scheduling, we would be scheduling out until July and that is just too long to wait. So about 12,000 (cases) have been expedited and they will not have fact-finding and they will be receiving notices by email and U.S. Mail...in the next couple of days," said Fortman
The DOL sent a release during the press conference that said:
MDOL’s streamlining will result in one of three outcomes for all current and future unemployment insurance claims through May 30:
- About 5,000 claims that were likely to be approved after an interview are now authorized to move forward without an interview to ensure benefits can be delivered quickly.
- About 7,000 claims waiting for an interview that were likely to be denied due to the claim not meeting monetary eligibility requirements will be denied, a necessary step to ensure these claimants can take further action without delay.
- The remainder of claims will still have fact-finding interviews or other staff review but on an expedited schedule. to ensure they are resolved as quickly as possible.
1:30 p.m.
- Family of Maine COVID-19 patient hopes plasma donations can save his life
- New NAMI Maine 'Teen Text Support Line' aims to help kids' mental health through coronavirus outbreak
- President Trump signs $484 billion measure to aid employers, hospitals
- Reasons to Smile: feel-good stories of the week
- Maine Coast Fishermen's Association holds 'Day of Action' Friday to assist fishermen in applying for financial relief due to COVID-19 pandemic
10 a.m.
- Dance classes go virtual during coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic
- School project turns into coronavirus quarantine community
- Reports: Ruth's Chris Steak House to return $20 million small business loan
- Harold Alfond Foundation grants $1M to Good Shepherd Food Bank for COVID-19 response
- Orono first responder creates online group to connect Mainers who can help or those who need it due to COVID-19
- Maine sees second week of decrease in unemployment claims; self-employed benefits still tied up amid COVID-19
- When will stimulus checks be mailed? What to know if you're still waiting
- Maine USPS worker tests positive for COVID-19, according to union leader
- Sen. Elizabeth Warren's oldest brother dies of coronavirus
- Walmart implementing one-way aisles to help with social distancing
- 'I wasn't sure that we were going to make it,' three capsized kayakers rescued on Sabattus Pond
- Self-employed Mainers unite as state struggles to get benefits program online amid COVID-19
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.