State health officials on Monday reported 219 new cases of COVID-19, as well as five additional deaths among individuals with the disease.
The number of new infections with the virus has been declining in Maine over the past few weeks in what officials hope is a sign that the state is finally coming out of the worst period of the pandemic after the holiday season. The seven-day moving average of new cases stood at 357 on Monday, compared with 455 cases in the week ending January 25 and a high of 626 cases for the period ending January 15, according to figures from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, despite the improved numbers in business, the number of deaths in Maine is still rising. With the five additional deaths reported Monday, at least 595 deaths in Maine were linked to COVID-19, more than 60 percent of which have occurred since Dec. 1.
The rate of vaccination is increasing in Maine, though this week’s snowstorm may delay some vaccinations.
As of Monday morning, 153,981 doses of vaccine have been administered in Maine since mid-December. The figure contains 115 087 first doses and 38 894 seconds or ‘booster’ shots needed to obtain maximum protection with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Maine CDC reported that a record 8,827 shots were fired on Thursday.
A winter storm that is expected to move into Maine on Monday night is likely to affect vaccination clinics early this week, although some locations are planned to remain open during the storm. The whole of Maine was under a winter storm warning on Monday from a Nor’easter that could pour more than a foot of snow in some areas against the storm Tuesday night.
Northern Light Health still plans to hold its large vaccination clinic at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Tuesday despite the storm.
“If you are pre-registered and have an appointment, and you can arrive safely at Cross Insurance Center, we will be there at your scheduled time to vaccinate,” the health care network said in a statement Sunday. “If you are unable to attend due to winter weather, please call Northern Light Health at 207-204-8551.”
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden in Washington, DC, plans to meet with Maine Senator Susan Collins and nine other Republican senators on Monday afternoon to discuss the group’s counter-proposal against Biden’s $ 1.9 billion coronavirus relief package.
This story will be updated.
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