201 New COVID-19 Cases in Maine and 2 Additional Deaths
According to the Maine CDC's Thursday update, the cumulative number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Maine is now at 42,259 an increase of 201 since Thursday. 33,713 of those cases are confirmed while 8,546 are deemed probable.
There were 2 new deaths reported of individuals with COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths at 643. 1,469 patients have had to be hospitalized at some point. 102 are currently hospitalized with 24 in intensive care and 9 on a ventilator.
226,184 Mainers have been vaccinated, with 162,662 having had one dose and 63,522 having had both doses.
Since December 5, the Maine CDC has focused its efforts on following up with COVID-19 cases for those persons under 19 and over 64 and no longer provides full active case data. The University of Maine Presque Isle GIS Lab has started providing an estimated active case number which is calculated as the difference in total cases in a 12-day interval. That number on Friday was 2,935 estimated active cases a number that continues to slowly trend down.
Governor Janet Mills has lifted the 9 p.m. curfew for certain businesses. The curfew applied to all Maine outdoor and indoor amusement venues, movie theaters, performing arts venues, casinos, and businesses that provide seated food and drink service, including social clubs, restaurants, and bars and tasting rooms open for outdoor service. The Governor said that the reason for ending the curfew was a result of Maine’s improving public health metrics, including a decrease in Maine’s positivity rate and new COVID-19 cases per million.
Governor Mills announced a new executive order December 11 requiring Mainers to wear face coverings in all indoor public spaces and prohibits owners from letting anyone in who is not wearing a face covering. The order also states that claiming a medical exemption is not an excuse to enter without a face covering.
Governor Mills has extended the State of Emergency in Maine through February 17, allowing Maine to continue to receive federal funding and use available resources to respond to COVID-19.
If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, including a runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, fever and in severe cases, difficulty breathing, the Maine CDC says you should call your doctor before going in so that they can prepare for your arrival. The Maine CDC continues to update with new information daily. Keep checking on our mobile app or website to get the latest.
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