Nationwide, COVID-19 cases have fallen 7 percent over the past two weeks compared with the prior two-week period, according to a New York Times analysis. Already, two other XBB strains, XBB.1.9.1 and XBB.1.9.2 are also rising in the U.S. [35], On March 26, 2020, Governor Mills extended the deadline for state income tax payments from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Despite states across the Northeast boasting high vaccination rates, with several jurisdictions reporting full vaccination rates above 70%, several states are struggling through their worst surge yet. In Maine, COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations have been steadily rising across the state, despite the fact more than 70% of the state's total population fully inoculated. COVID-19 cases on the rise in nearly 2 dozen states. [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. Janet Mills said Sunday. [73] The University of Maine system formed a Fall 2020 Safe Return Planning Committee and will plan to return to in-person instruction by the end of August and will invest $97 million in institutional aid that does not need to be repaid by students or their families. The rising case counts are prompting employers, healthcare providers and universities to announce COVID-19 vaccine requirements and incentives. Percentage of population: 60.91%. While some health officials caution that case numbers may not be the best indicator of the prevalence of COVID-19, hospitalizations are also on the rise in a number of states. Experts say the current increase in COVIDcases is being driven by changes in both the virus, and in behavior and policy. On Monday, Maine Center for Disease Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Nirav Shah said on the Maine Public radio program Maine Calling that Maines low population levels make the state particularly susceptible to fluctuations in the U.S. CDC risk levels and that his agency would be researching whether a different approach would be a better fit for Maine to determine high-risk areas. Mills extended Maine's state of civil emergency through May 15, 2020. [70] The 90% of students who vacated their residence halls were eligible for tuition rebates on a case-by-case basis. The town of South Thomaston said Wednesday it would pay $200 to residents or others who frequent the town for getting vaccinated. As we enter these winter months, it will be more important than ever to wear your mask, practice social distancing, and maintain proper hand hygiene.". 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. [37] Nursing homes were also now able to request funds to help respond to the pandemic within their facilities. [57], On May 6, 2020, Gov. Cumberland, Lincoln, Penobscot, Piscataquis and York counties already were in the substantial transmission category. [28][29], On March 20, 2020, Governor Mills opened waters to inland fishing and suspended license requirements until April 30 to encourage individuals to go outside during the pandemic. This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login. 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. [58] Other committee members are individuals representing small businesses, non-profit organizations, unions, educational institutions, and legislators. [80] The Board of Trustees of the University of New England made the decision to not increase tuition, fees, and room and board costs for the 20202021 academic year in light of the pandemic. And the level of COVID found in wastewater from the Boston area is rising, which experts say indicates case counts will likely continue to climb for the next week or two, if not longer. County where individuals with a positive case reside. [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. Here are five possible explanations: Protocol fatigue According to experts at the John Hopkins Medicine, human behaviour is the major factor for the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. [58][59] The committee consists of thirty-seven members, and is co-chaired by Laurie Lachance, President of Thomas College and former Maine State Economist, and Josh Broder, the CEO of Tilson. Cases are typically updated weekly and are less consistently reported than earlier in the pandemic because of a lack of widespread testing. Later stages discussed revisiting limitations on gatherings, stay-at-home orders, and reservations and capacity limits for restaurants, gyms, retail stores, and campgrounds. At Portland Stage, Executive and Artistic Director Anita Stewart said they have adjusted protocols to have all audience members wear masks when attending shows in order to meet the U.S. CDC recommendation. Back on October 10, I listed for Forbes eight reasons why the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic could get worse in the U.S. in the late Fall and Winter. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Boston, which never lifted its school mask mandate, is now encouraging people to wear masks in indoor public places. [97], On March 12, 2020, Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) chose to extend its Spring Break and on March 17, 2020, the decision was made to move all courses to an online format, close residence halls, and cancel all gatherings of more than ten people. 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. A week aago, Aroostook was the only Maine county not considered to be at low risk. So there are some early signs that we're headed in the wrong direction. Of the 61 samples that were sequenced in July, 60.7 percent were identified as the delta variant. In neighboring Vermont, which has the highest vaccination rate of any state with nearly 72% of the population fully vaccinated, COVID-19 cases increased by 50% over the last 14 days. Cases are still rising, and experts warn it's impossible to predict when this upswing will peak. At this time, booster shots are recommended for anyone over the age of 18 who has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. "More than 40% of the country remains unvaccinated. The recommendation from Portland officials comes as Maine reported another 152 cases of the virus on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 70,996. [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. [65], On November 10, 2021, The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced it would be receiving 6.5 million in funding from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases program to combat COVID-19. In recent days, the numbers have prompted several school districts, including Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge, to urge masking in classrooms. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Success. [7] On the same day, 20 cases were confirmed at the Penobscot Hope House Health and Living Center in Bangor, Maine which houses a homeless shelter.[8][9]. On March 29 the U.S. CDC expanded eligibility for a second booster shot to people age 50 and over, especially those 65 and older and those with underlying medical conditions. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Maine officials are urging more precaution in schools due to rising numbers of coronavirus cases in some parts of the state. [32], On March 24, the City of Portland announced that the manager has signed a stay-at-home order beginning on March 25 for all non-essential businesses and services in Portland, with a potential end date on April 27. The seven-day average of new cases in Maine rose to 310 on Friday, a nearly 50 percent increase in less than a week, and Maine's case count in the last two weeks has increased 55 percent, according to The New York Times. Vaccinations have dropped off in recent weeks but the state continues to have one of the best vaccination rates in the country, with 69 percent of the vaccination-eligible population of those 12 and over fully inoculated and 60 percent of the entire population. [98] SMCC will also hold all summer classes online. Mills' executive order also expanded the ability to request absentee ballots, which may now be done up to and on election day. On Saturday, 100 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, one fewer than on Friday. Quality of life or homeless crackdown in Lewiston? Includes 1 hospitalized case from an unknown county. [101] On March 16, 2020, EMCC dining halls were closed for in-person dining, the number of students allowed to be in common areas such as the library and student center was limited, student housing was closed, and the decision was made to move courses online. / CBS Boston. Already, two other XBB strains, XBB.1.9.1 and XBB.1.9.2 are also rising in the U.S. Staff Writer Kevin Miller contributed to this report. Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Maine, United States, Map of the outbreak in Maine by confirmed. That's a lot of warm water for hurricane delta. [47], On April 21, Gov. [120], The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority announced a suspension of all remaining Amtrak Downeaster service, to begin April 13 and last until April 30, after two prior service reductions. Total cases: 70,996 Please note the display name will appear on screen when you participate. But why there? Apr. Andujar Vazquez is hopeful that case counts will plateau by late-May and return to significantly lower levels by mid- to late-June. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? This declaration allows for state agencies and municipalities in Maine to be reimbursed for 75% of approved costs related to pandemic response.[41][42]. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bonnie Washuk, Portland Press Herald, Maine. As of February 2, 2021, the Maine Department of Health and Human [10] By September 5, the outbreak had infected 177 people and caused seven deaths, including 80 cases at a prison 230mi (370km) away. Add your email address and we'll send you central Maine news, weather updates and traffic alerts as they happen. Please enter valid email address to continue. [87] Maine College of Art closed all academic buildings to students on March 15, 2020, and announced on March 29, 2020, that the remainder of the spring term would be conducted online. Learn more. Sixty-five people attended a reception in Millinocket at a hall that had capacity for 50 people. Deaths Near 100,000, An Incalculable Loss, Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=COVID-19_pandemic_in_Maine&oldid=1142564384, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States by state, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from February 2021, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from December 2020, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Updated April 25, 2023, with data from the previous day, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 03:48. On March 12, Maine announced the state's first confirmed case of the coronavirus, a Navy reservist in her 50s from Androscoggin County who had returned from duty in Italy. The number of people testing positive for Covid in the UK has been rising in recent days to more than 50,000 cases in one day. Although cases fell precipitously between mid-January and mid-March, there has been a slow, persistent increase since then. [75], On March 16, 2020, Maine Maritime Academy announced that it would discontinue on-campus instruction and move to remote instruction. [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. Gabrielle Emanuel Twitter Senior Health and Science ReporterGabrielle Emanuel is a senior health and science reporter for WBUR. Further, according to the report, 67% of hospitalizations, over the last seven days, are among the unvaccinated. Photo: Reuters Malaysia s mask mandate may make a return to schools, as the Health [88][89] Saint Joseph's College of Maine has transitioned all classroom instruction to online formats and held a virtual commencement ceremony on May 9, 2020. Saturday saw 98 new cases, and one more person lost their life to the virus. "I always get worried when cases go up but we should be okay.". [18], On March 23, 2020, Governor Mills passed an executive order that extended expiration dates and waived fees for driver's licenses and other related motor vehicle licenses until 30 days past the state of emergency. [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. Malaysian students may have to mask up in school again as Covid case rise. ", Even states with high vaccination rates see upticks. Shah said whipsawing between recommendations where masking is recommended in a county on Monday, not on Tuesday but recommended again on Wednesday can undermine confidence in public health. "While we should all be more optimistic than this time last year, we are not yet in a position to declare victory on the pandemic," Brownstein said. Experts say the key to getting through the winter will ultimately be to get more Americans fully vaccinated and boosted when eligible. [72] 98.5% of students who were enrolled in University of Maine system campuses at the start of the semester completed their studies despite COVID-19 disruptions. With the development of COVID vaccines and treatments, many medical experts were optimistic that cases could increase without an accompanying jumpin hospitalizations. Heres why. Waldo County remains in the high transmission category, where mask wearing also is recommended. "The situation here in New Hampshire remains very serious, the data shows that community transmission is increasing, and we expect cases to rise," Sununu said. Several other entertainment venues did not return messages seeking information on their masking policies Thursday. ", Jennifer Nuzzo, epidemiology lead at the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, called the stall in the national decline "worrisome. [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. There were no new deaths, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. He surmises that vacation travel and get-togethers gave the virus an opportunity to spread. 11:30 p.m. As a result, COVID-19 case data will be updated weekly on Tuesdays. The latest numbers bring the seven-day average of new cases in the state to 107.6, which is up from 69 one week ago and 20 cases per day one month ago. Just because of these challenging beds, and we're taking patients much further than we would normally take them which you can imagine," Judge added. The first Omicron wave has left us numb to the continuing presence of the virus. Maine officials on Friday are reporting just 54 additional cases of COVID-19. On Tuesday, Pfizer requested the Food and Drug Administration allow all Americans over 18 to be eligible for booster shots. [26] Additionally, Governor Mills signed an executive order to require school districts to continue paying hourly employees for the duration of the school year. [4][5] On March 27, 2020, Maine reported its first death due to coronavirus, which was a man in his 80s from Cumberland County. The rolling average of daily cases more than [80] Colby College announced that all on-campus classes would end the week of March 12, 2020 and students would move off campus. ABC News . Copyright 2022 WABI. November 1, 2020 / 6:00 PM [117], The Maine Turnpike Authority said it was paying all of its employees two weeks of administrative leave, and workers who continued to report to work would still be given it, effectively doubling their pay. On Thursday there were 44 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Maine, including 18 in critical care and seven on ventilators. [122] One round trip between Boston and Brunswick was resumed on June 15, 2020. The University of Maine System isrequiring vaccines for on-campus students this fall, accelerating a previously stated timeline that called for a vaccine requirement for students and staff after a vaccine received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 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. (Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press) Johns Hopkins experts in global With masks, tests, vaccines and widely-available treatments, she believes Massachusetts has the tools needed to address rising cases. The seven-day average for case counts is over three times higher than it was in March. [79] On March 13, 2020, The University of New England announced that all competitive athletics were canceled for the spring season and that all courses would move online for the spring semester, excluding advanced Dental Hygiene and advanced Nursing student courses. The state reported 605 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest one-day total since March 4. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.