Maine at 499 COVID-19 Cases; Dr. Shah Thanks Healthcare Workers
Maine's number of reported cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to rise as 29 more cases are reported in Maine while a total of 158 people that tested positive have recovered.
Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah reported Monday that the total number of cases of the coronavirus in Maine is now at 499 and 68 of those cases are health care workers. The number of deaths from complications of COVID-19 is now at 10, while the number of people that have had to be hospitalized at some point is 68.
Dr. Shah also reported that as of Thursday, Maine has 122 available ICU beds out of 185 in the state and 266 out of 334 ventilators available.
Cumberland County has the most positive cases of COVID-19 and community transmission is occurring there long with York county. All counties except Piscataquis county have recorded at least one case of COVID-19. Investigations are ongoing in other counties to determine if community transmission is occurring there.
Here's a map of the breakdown of number of cases by county from the Maine CDC.
The Maine CDC labs currently have the ability to administer over 3000 tests and any tests that are administered by the CDC labs will be done using Federal CDC guidelines for test prioritization which can be seen here.
To close Monday's briefing, Dr. Shah took a moment to recognize all of Maine's healthcare workers on the front lines:
I'd like to just take a moment to thank them not only for their service but for their courage. This is one of those situations where being courageous is not the same thing as being oblivious to risk. This is a situation where courage entails recognizing the risk and knowing full well that that risk exists, continuing to charge onto the front lines because they know that that is the right thing to do.
So on behalf of all us across the State of Maine, to every single healthcare worker who is on the front line working on COVID-19, I want to tell you that we recognize the risk you are taking and we commend your courage. Thank you for doing everything that you are doing.
There are simply not enough spotlights in the State of Maine to shine a light on each and every one of those people on the front lines. But each of them in every corner of the state is doing heroic work and I ask all of us to take a look around. Take a look in our neighborhoods and our families and our communities, and take a second to thank each and every one of those healthcare workers for the risk that they're taking and the courage that they are displaying right now.This effort statewide could not exist without those healthcare workers who are on the front lines, and I personally thank them for their service.
Governor Janet Mills has ordered all Mainers to stay home unless you work for an essential business or need to do an essential activity. The executive order remains in effect until April 30. Find out what that means for you by clicking or tapping here.
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.
Shah says that right now, our only vaccine against the COVID-19 is physical distancing. It is the key to flattening out the curve of the spread of the coronavirus, a point Dr Shah stressed is vitally important for Mainers to practice. A low curve means that the virus is spreading slowly which gives doctors more time and resources to treat more people. The higher the curve, the most people get sick at once and medical facilities get overwhelmed. Shah says that right now, our only vaccine against the COVID-19 is physicalldistancing.
The Maine CDC continues to update with new information daily. Keep checking on our mobile app or website to get the latest.