Maine reported an additional 11 deaths and 715 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, while the virus seeks new victims across the state.
After two days of relatively small numbers, including 313 new cases on Monday and 273 on Sunday, the total number of cases reported on Tuesday returned the highest numbers that were common in December and earlier this month.
The seven-day daily averages since January 2 are over 500.
Since the start of the pandemic, Maine has reported 30,326 COVID-19 cases and 449 deaths.
Maine has the third highest COVID-19 vaccination rate in the country, giving four doses to every 100 residents, according to a vaccine tracker from Bloomberg News, behind West Virginia and South Dakota.
Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Monday that the agency is working with hospitals to get vaccines administered quickly and that doses are not on the shelves, as has been reported in some others States.
Maine is currently in Phase 1A of the vaccination program, which includes the immunization of 130,000 health workers, staff from nursing homes and residents and paramedics. About 50,000 have already received the vaccine, including nearly 6,000 who have received both doses and are fully vaccinated.
Phase 1B is scheduled to start in February and, from now on, includes elderly people aged 75 and over and essential frontline workers such as police, teachers, postmen and supermarket clerks. But Shah said exactly which groups will be leading the line in Phase 1B is still up for discussion.
Phase 1C, those between 65 and 74 years old, essential workers and younger people with high-risk health conditions, should not start until spring, while vaccination of the general population can be in late spring or summer.
Shah said the state is still working on plans to host mass vaccination events, a logistical challenge due to the risks of transmission at large gatherings. Mass vaccination events can be held at civic centers, schools or community centers.
This story will be updated.
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