Maine public health officials reported 265 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, continuing a downward trend in the past two weeks as vaccinations progress at a slow but slightly accelerated pace.
Two additional deaths have also been reported. There have been 40,799 confirmed or probable cases of the virus since the pandemic hit Maine in March and 632 died of COVID-19. Deaths have more than tripled since Thanksgiving.
The average daily 7-day cases stood at 285 on Friday, representing a drop of 363 cases a week ago and 501 cases two weeks ago, or an incubation period, behind. New cases were reported Friday in all 16 counties, led by Cumberland County at 63 and York County at 60. The highest transmission rates in the past two weeks were in Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties, according to data the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The lowest rates occurred in Knox and Hancock counties.
Hospitalizations have steadily declined in recent weeks. As of Friday, there were 131 individuals in the hospital with COVID-19, the lowest number since 28 November. Of these, 45 were in intensive care and 22 were on a ventilator. Although hospitalizations are declining across the state, reflecting national trends, the facilities in Lewiston, Bridgton and Rumford are going through their busiest weeks with the pandemic.
Meanwhile, vaccinations continue at an increasing pace. This week, the state’s first two mass vaccination sites were opened – one at Scarborough Downs, the other at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. On Thursday, 130,551 Maine residents, or nearly 10 percent of the population, received their first dose, and 46,410 people, or about 3.5 percent, received both doses.
The state’s vaccination rate, according to a Bloomberg News state-to-state tracker, is about 12 doses per 100 people, which ranks 10th and is above the national average of 10.7 doses per 100 people. Of those who received one dose, just under half were over 60, according to data from the Maine CDC, while 28% of individuals who received both doses were 60 or older.
Maine switched to Phase 1B of its vaccination plans about three weeks ago and has prioritized 70 and above. However, state officials said on Thursday that if vaccine supply continues at the current rate, they will open vaccination for those aged 65 to 69 in early March.
Also included in Phase 1B are some critical and frontline workers, but the state has yet to make a final decision on which groups would be prioritized next.
Maine will receive 21,475 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine next week, up 5% from the current week, which was 16% more than the previous week.
“For the second week in a row, an increase in COVID-19 vaccines arriving in the state will allow Maine to accelerate the rate of vaccination for residents aged 70 and over who are at the highest risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19,” Department of Health and Human Services, Jeanne Lambrew, said on Thursday.
Of next week’s doses, 13,900 will be sent to hospitals, 3,975 will go to outpatient clinics, 2,500 to independent pharmacies helping to vaccinate people in long-term care and 1,100 doses will be distributed to public security departments. For the fourth consecutive week, Maine will not send a dose to CVS and Walgreens as part of the US CDC-operated retail pharmacy program.
This story will be updated.
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