The Mills administration said recently it plans to distribute 400,000 rapid antigen tests. Mills issued a Stay Safer at Home Executive Order, which was set to be in effect until May 31, 2020. To get one, go to the subscriptions page. [77] Over the last two weeks, 22 states -- many of them with colder temperatures -- have seen an uptick in daily cases of 10%. On April 7, Governor Mills issued an executive order that expanded healthcare access to Maine residents. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code. [60], As part of Stage 2 of the Restarting Maine's Economy plan, Gov. "Whether that's an intrinsic property of the virus or the level of vaccination-induced immunity or previous infection-induced immunity is not clear.. This issue is not unique to Maine, Judge explained, adding that his colleagues across the country, and in the Northeast, are all still struggling. [70] Commencement ceremonies across the university system originally scheduled for May 9, 2020 were postponed, and each individual university will designate a postponement date. The Maine CDC warns the numbers will remain high for the next several days. After vital reccords review, COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine have topped over 200,000. And after nearly 10 weeks of declines, national hospitalizations have also begun to increase. A week aago, Aroostook was the only Maine county not considered to be at low risk. Mills calls for statewide cancellation of St. Patrick's Day celebrations", "Maine's new supplemental budget focuses on coronavirus response", "Gov. The rolling average of daily cases more than doubled from below 30 per day to more than 67 by Friday. Sixty-five people attended a reception in Millinocket at a hall that had capacity for 50 people. [56] Acadia National Park announced it would close indefinitely to prevent first responders from being exposed to the virus in the event of an injury and to prevent travel by visitors to the area. (Maine CDC) By WABI News Desk. WebCOVID-19 cases are rising in nearly every corner of the United States, yet hospitalizations remain low, partly a reflection of greater immunity in the population. As a result, COVID-19 case data will be updated weekly on Tuesdays. With the development of COVID vaccines and treatments, many medical experts were optimistic that cases could increase without an accompanying jumpin hospitalizations. There are 54 critical care beds available in the state. [37] Nursing homes were also now able to request funds to help respond to the pandemic within their facilities. Mills rescheduled Maine's congressional and legislative primary elections from June 9, 2020, to July 14. [14], On March 2, 2020, Governor Janet Mills convened a coronavirus response team, led by Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, to coordinate state efforts against the virus. For weeks throughout the early fall, the U.S. had seen steady declines in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, offering hope that perhaps the pandemic was finally subsiding in the U.S. after a significant summer surge across the South and a renewed push for vaccinations. Across the U.S., coronavirus case numbers have been rising due to the spread of the delta variant, mostly among the unvaccinated. Gavin Newsom warned during a press conference on Tuesday. Free Covid-19 testing in shown in downtown Denver, Nov. 4, 2021. The first Omicron wave has left us numb to the continuing presence of the virus. Mar. 16As the BA.2 omicron subvariant of COVID-19 drives up infections in the Northeast, Maine reported 437 new cases on Saturday. Still, Andujar Vazquez points out the majority of COVID patients who are currently hospitalized in Massachusetts roughly 67% are not there primarily for a COVID-related illness. [96] The Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts postponed all summer 2020 residency programs and will offer online instruction during the summer. [86] On March 12, 2020, The College of the Atlantic announced that all instruction for spring 2020 would move to an online format, residence halls would be closed, and all in-person services would be eliminated. "We won't have transmission when people are outdoors. While hospital officials do not report their facilities areoverwhelmed by COVID patients, hospitalizations are on the rise. This money was granted under the CARES Act. This declaration allows for state agencies and municipalities in Maine to be reimbursed for 75% of approved costs related to pandemic response.[41][42]. On April 10, Gov. Already registered? You will receive an email to complete the registration. State and local health officials are once again raising the alarm about the renewed threat of COVID-19 spread in communities across the country as people head indoors during the colder months and are set to gather for the holidays. On October 22, 2020, 46 COVID-19 cases were linked to a fellowship rally between October 2 and October 4 at the Brooks Pentecostal Church. Learn more. [18], On March 16, 2020, Maine was one of the first states to have its application for the United States Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan approved, which would help businesses in Maine recover financial losses due to coronavirus closures. Experts say a confluence of factors is likely driving the country's recent increases in infections, including the more than 100 million Americans who remain completely unvaccinated, cold weather and relaxed restrictions, the highly transmissible delta variant, and waning vaccine immunity. She expects cases to start rising The low-risk designation indicates the level of transmission and rate of hospitalizations are not expected to strain local hospitals. [53][54] This order allowed Maine residents to visit businesses and participate in activities that were safe under Stage 1 of the governor's reopening plan, including drive-in theaters, hair salons, golf courses, and car washes. Several other entertainment venues did not return messages seeking information on their masking policies Thursday. 29 people are on ventilators, up two from yesterday. 63 people are in critical care, down one from yesterday. [17] Governor Mills recommended halting classroom instruction in Maine and stopping all gatherings of more than 50 people, or more than 10 people if senior citizens were involved in the gathering. [47], On April 21, Gov. [99] Short-term workforce training including an online pharmacy technician training and professional education online licenses in areas such as business, data analysis, finance, and human resources were also made available by SMCC to those impacted by the pandemic. "We estimate that 54% of people in Maine Mills announces expansion of health care access for Mainers", "Governor Mills Issues Executive Order to Expand Access Health Care During COVID-19 | Office of Governor Janet T. Mills", "Mills officially pushes back June elections to July 14", "Governor extends civil state of emergency in Maine through May 15", "Gov. So if you come to the theater, you will need a mask, even if on one day the numbers pull Cumberland out of the high zone, Stewart said in an email. The new restrictions take effect Wednesday. [80] On May 4, 2020, the University of New England reported that it would reopen its campus in time for the fall semester, and on May 18, 2020, it was announced that virtual graduation events would be held the weekend of June 1214, 2020. The masking classifications follow U.S. CDC guidance released last week that has caused confusion for some business owners and residents as they try to navigate daily changes to the county classifications that can result in different masking guidance. [34], On March 25, 2020, Governor Mills signed an executive order which enhanced the health care workforce and telehealth efforts by allowing physicians, physicians assistants, and nurses to obtain relevant licenses to deliver health services remotely and have those remote services be covered by insurance companies. Cases are still rising, and experts warn it's impossible to predict when this upswing will peak. Mills orders quarantine restrictions on travelers arriving in Maine", "Gov. He said the Maine CDC is taking a close look at why Waldo County is seeing such high transmission rates, but theres no clear answer right now. The fully vaccinated includes those who have had a first and second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the single-dose J&J vaccine. [111], Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) discontinued face-to-face classroom instruction on March 18, 2020, and also canceled their spring 2020 commencement ceremony. [116], MaineDOT has been able to schedule more daytime road work due to the reduced traffic caused by the pandemic, which means expensive night work is not necessary, saving costs. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. "Waning immunity likely is also contributing to increases in cases especially among those with increased vulnerability because of underlying conditions. Millions are travelling during the five-day Labour Day holiday. Give this Article . The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, which also had previously said it would wait for full FDA approval before moving ahead with a vaccine requirement, announced Thursday all faculty, staff and students who plan to be on campus this academic year must be vaccinated. [49] This service provides assistance to all who are responding to the pandemic in Maine and helps responders manage stress associated with their jobs. 22State health officials reported 178 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday but no additional deaths, as Maine prepares to enter the next inoculation phase ahead of anticipated increases in vaccine supplies. This order also suspended hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals, RV parks, campgrounds, and all public and private camping facilities. Shah has stated he believes that 60-80 percent of new cases in Maine are resulting from the delta variant, which is consistent with findings in other northeastern states. What's more, according toHorsburgh, few of the current COVIDpatients in hospitalsare gravely ill. As of Wednesday, just 66 COVID patients were in an intensive care unit, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. We're continuing to say the hospitals are full to capacity," Thomas Judge, executive director of LifeFlight of Maine, told ABC News. [112] On April 12, 2020, NMCC began enrolling students in four free online healthcare career path training programs to address pandemic workforce needs. Fully vaccinated: 818,713 The town of South Thomaston said Wednesday it would pay $200 to residents or others who frequent the town for getting vaccinated. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The theater has advised current ticket-holders of their plan and posted the protocols on its website. The COVID-19 pandemic was publicly reported to have reached the U.S. state of Maine on March 12, 2020. 16As the BA.2 omicron subvariant of COVID-19 drives up infections in the Northeast, Maine reported 437 new cases on Saturday. Create a commenting profile by providing an email address, password and display name. [116], Island Explorer bus service was cancelled for the 2020 season due to the difficulty of complying with social distancing measures,[119] though limited service is planned to resume in 2021. More Mainers are being advised to wear masks indoors as county-level COVID-19 transmission rates rise, with Portland officials issuing a recommendation Thursday that everyone mask-up indoors regardless of vaccination status. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is safe to get the COVID and flu vaccines during the same visit. [58], As part of Stage 1 of the Restarting Maine's Economy Plan, Maine government allows for golf courses, barber shops, hair salons, dog groomers, car washes, and auto dealerships to reopen with strict social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines as of May 1, 2020. The United States is averaging 119,888 new Covid-19 cases each day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, as of Wednesday. [40], On April 4, Governor Mills announced that her request for a major disaster declaration was approved by President Donald Trump. [40] Violations of the order could be subject to a penalty of six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. Because COVID is at a high tide and staying there. [81] All events, performances, and athletic matches were canceled at Colby College beginning on March 15, 2020. The state reported 103 infections that day, the largest single day increase in cases. Bonnie Washuk, Portland Press Herald, Maine. [108][109] On March 15, 2021, they announced the York County '21 Promise, a full tuition scholarship for high school seniors that had taken concurrent courses at the college for students in the class of 2021 effected by the pandemic. CONCORD, N.H. (CBS/AP) Maine is reinstating restrictions meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 amid a resurgence of the virus, Gov. Further, according to the report, 67% of hospitalizations, over the last seven days, are among the unvaccinated. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Experts say the current increase in COVIDcases is being driven by changes in both the virus, and in behavior and policy. [28] The data also shows an increase in infections among primary and secondary school children. People who have not been fully vaccinated are 6.1 times more likely to test positive with the virus and 11.3 times more likely to die from it, compared with people who are vaccinated, according to federal data. [98] SMCC will also hold all summer classes online. There are also three additional deaths. That's "good news," shesaid, and a testament to the relatively high vaccination rate in the state. Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. As county transmission levels are expected to change daily, the city of Portland is asking the public to remain aware of the current recommendations by visiting the CDCs website, reading and watching the news, following the requirements of private establishments and when in doubt, wearing a mask. [24], On March 19, 2020, Governor Mills wrote a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar to request for more personal protective equipment be released to the state of Maine from the Strategic National Stockpile. [107], York County Community College (YCCC) had moved all classes online as of March 17, 2020 and on May 20, 2020, announced a postponement of their spring 2020 commencement ceremony. "More than 40% of the country remains unvaccinated. AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) - 3,556 new COVID-19 cases are being reported making the new state total 202,221. Maine (WABI) - 748 new cases of COVID being reported by the Maine CDC. WebIn early 2020, deaths from all causes exceeded the seasonal average, [75] and data from early 2020 suggest additional deaths that were not counted in official reported coronavirus mortality statistics. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. On Tuesday, Pfizer requested the Food and Drug Administration allow all Americans over 18 to be eligible for booster shots. 249 people are now hospitalized with the virus, down 11 from yesterday. COVID-19 cases on the rise in nearly 2 dozen states. Reported confirmed and probable cases. [62], Gov. Later stages discussed revisiting limitations on gatherings, stay-at-home orders, and reservations and capacity limits for restaurants, gyms, retail stores, and campgrounds. It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. [122] One round trip between Boston and Brunswick was resumed on June 15, 2020. ", Even states with high vaccination rates see upticks. Janet Mills convenes a coronavirus response team for Maine", "Janet Mills advises postponing gatherings after Maine sees first positive coronavirus test", "Janet Mills declares state of emergency after Maine announces new coronavirus cases", "SBA Approves Governor Mills' Application for Loans to Help Eligible Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 | Office of Governor Janet T. Mills", "Gov. [16], On March 15, 2020, Governor Janet Mills declared a civil state of emergency which allows the governor to establish emergency reserves of products, allows the state to access federal funding to combat the outbreak, and allows for suspension of certain laws. An average of 128 cases per day were reported in Maine in the last week.Cases have decreased by 35 percent from the average two weeks ago.Deaths have The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. "We know by now that we expect fluctuations in cases," said Andujar Vazquez. [70] The 90% of students who vacated their residence halls were eligible for tuition rebates on a case-by-case basis. [115], The Maine Department of Transportation said that since the stay at home order issued by Gov. However, the U.S. appears to be once again at an inflection point, with cold weather setting in across much of the North, COVID-19 restrictions relaxed and gatherings growing more frequent. That has not happened. Hospitalizations: 44 [66], On March 25, 2020, Governor Janet Mills signed an agreement through the Maine Emergency Management Agency with the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System to coordinate assistance requests and ensure the deployment of resources to aid in the government response to COVID-19. [26] Additionally, Governor Mills signed an executive order to require school districts to continue paying hourly employees for the duration of the school year. [20] The Maine Legislature also enacted a supplemental budget of $73 million which focused on coronavirus response, including $1 million to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, $15 million to increase MaineCare reimbursement rates for health care providers, and $38 million to K-12 education to help in the wake of school closures. So any shift to a new recommendation system would be aimed at providing Mainers with more clarity and stability, Shah said. The state reported 605 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest one-day total since March 4. In Maine, 73.97 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, the state reported on Friday. The state is removing New York, Connecticut and New Jersey from its list of states that are exempt from travel restrictions, Mills said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Friday saw 103 new cases of COVID-19, the highest single-day increase in Maine since the beginning of the pandemic. [6] On April 29, 8 employees working at a local Tyson Foods meat packaging plant in Portland, Maine tested positive for COVID-19 prompting talks about halting the plant's production. [11] A lawyer for the officiant at the wedding said the Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford was encouraging its congregants to not wear masks, and the church's school, Sanford Christian Academy, does not require face coverings. [77], Bowdoin College announced on March 11, 2020, that students would not be permitted to return to campus from spring break and that the remainder of the semester would be conducted by remote learning. Please wait for the page to reload. ABC News . Residents of moderate risk counties are advised to wear masks when indoors if they are at high risk of complications from COVID-19 because of their age or underlying health conditions. [58] Other committee members are individuals representing small businesses, non-profit organizations, unions, educational institutions, and legislators. Mills extended the COVID-19 civil state of emergency through July 10, 2020. On Thursday there were 44 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Maine, including 18 in critical care and seven on ventilators. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. [118] The Authority announced that drivers uncomfortable with handing cash to a toll collector would not be penalized for using the EZ Pass only lanes and paying tolls online or by mail. Sources: maine.gov. [23], On March 18, 2020, Governor Mills issued an executive order which mandated all bars and restaurants close to dine-in customers, but allowed take-out, delivery, and drive-through to continue. (Maine Medical Center) PORTLAND (WGME) -- COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations appear to be on the rise again in Maine. (Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press) Photo: Reuters Malaysia s mask mandate may make a return to schools, as the Health There is not an outbreak that is driving it and thus, because theres not an outbreak, it is community transmission, Shah said.