COVID-19 cases continue downward trend with 265 new infections

Maine’s public health officials on Friday reported 265 new cases of COVID-19, which has continued a downward trend over the past two weeks as vaccinations move forward at a slow but slightly accelerated pace.

Two additional deaths were also reported. There have now been 40,799 confirmed or probable cases of the virus since the Maine pandemic reached in March and 632 died from COVID-19. Deaths have more than tripled since Thanksgiving.

The average of 7 days per day was 285 on Friday, which decreased from 363 cases one week ago and 501 cases two weeks ago, or one incubation period ago. New cases were reported Friday in all 16 counties, led by Cumberland County with 63 and York County with 60. According to data from the Maine Center for the past two weeks, the broadcast numbers were in the counties of Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin. Disease control and prevention. The lowest rates were in Knox and Hancock.

“The improved statistics are a good sign,” governments Janet Mills said Thursday. ‘They’re an indication that Maine made the turn around the corner. We hope we have seen after the boom of COVID-19 after the holidays, a boom that apparently followed on the heels of holiday gatherings and the onset of cold weather. The news is good, but of course this pandemic is far from over. ”

Both Mills and the director of CDC, dr. Nirav Shah, warned Mainers that they are hosting or attending Superbowl parties on Sunday.

Hospitalizations have also been steadily declining over the past few weeks. As of Friday, there were 131 individuals in the hospital with COVID-19, the lowest number since November 28th. Of these, 45 were in critical care and 22 in a ventilator. Although hospitalizations have declined nationwide, reflecting national trends, facilities in Lewiston, Bridgton and Rumford are all seeing their busiest weeks of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, vaccinations are continuing at an increasing rate. This week, the state’s first two mass vaccination centers opened – one in Scarborough Downs, the other in the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. As of Thursday, 130,551 Mainers, or nearly 10 percent of the population, had received their first dose, and 46,410 people, or about 3.5 percent, had received both doses.

The state’s vaccination rate, according to a Bloomberg News state-by-state tracker, is about 12 doses per 100 people, which is 10th and above the national average of 10.7 doses per 100 people. Of those who received one dose, according to Maine CDC data, slightly less than half were older than 60, while 28 percent of the individuals who received both doses were 60 years or older.

Maine moved to Phase 1B of its vaccination plans about three weeks ago and prioritizes those 70 and older. However, government officials said Thursday that if the vaccine supply continues at the current rate, they will start vaccinating by the age of 65-69 by early March.

“It’s too early to say we’m taking a turn, but we’re close to saying that one in 10 Maine residents has had their first doses and that more than 20 percent of Maine’s people 70 and older had their first doses, “the Maine department said. Jeanne Lambrew, commissioner of health and human services, said Thursday.

A few critical front-line workers were also included in Phase 1B, but the state has not yet made any final decisions on which groups will be prioritized next.

Maine will receive 21,475 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine next week, an increase of 5 percent over the current week, which was 16 percent more than last week.

Of next week’s doses, 13,900 will be sent to hospitals, 3,975 will go to outpatient clinics, 2,500 are to independent pharmacies that help vaccinate people in long-term care and 1100 doses will be distributed to public safety departments. For the fourth consecutive week, Maine will not send doses to CVS and Walgreens as part of the U.S. CDC’s retail pharmacy program.

“Previous

Next »

Related stories