Maine reports 439 new cases of COVID-19, three deaths

Maine on Monday reported 439 new cases of COVID-19 and three additional deaths as vaccinations continue and public health officials are spending for another possible boost to Christmas vacation travel.

Since the pandemic began, 22,319 people in Maine have tested positive for COVID-19, and 326 have died.

Dr. Nirav Shah, CDC director in Maine, is expected to address the media today at 2 p.m.

As of Sunday, more than 17,000 Maine residents, mostly health workers on the front lines of the pandemic, had been vaccinated, about 1.3 percent of the state’s population. Maine immunizes people faster than most states, according to a vaccination finding by Bloomberg News. In measuring the percentage of people vaccinated by the state by the state, only West Virginia, Alaska, North Dakota and South Dakota vaccinated more people per capita than Maine, with West Virginia occupying the country on 1.7 percent led.

The rollout of vaccines continues, with even more loads of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines expected this week.

Paramedics and EMTs are starting to receive vaccines, and the Portland Fire Department reported that 80 firefighters cross-trained as paramedics and EMTs were vaccinated last weekend, with an additional 80 shot this week.

Portland deputy fire chief Kevin McGuire told the Press Herald over the weekend that all “mask and travel policies are still in place” for firefighters.

“My hope is in four or five months if thousands of people are vaccinated, we will see active cases decrease and we can start thinking about changing policy,” McGuire said.

But epidemiologists and other public health officials have warned that, even with the vaccine, the public will be urged to continue wearing masks, renouncing social and taking other protective measures for the foreseeable future.

This story will be updated.

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