Maine reports 97 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday

For the second time in eight days, Maine health officials reported less than 100 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday. There were also no additional deaths reported for the second consecutive day.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention added 97 new cases on Monday, the lowest total since 89 cases registered a week ago. Pandemic conditions have improved substantially since mid-January, with the number of daily cases dropping to levels not seen since early November. The average daily 7-day cases are now 118, down from 268 cases two weeks ago and 499 cases a month ago.

Despite positive trends in Maine and across the country, the United States has already passed the grim mark of 500,000 Americans killed by COVID-19, by far the largest number in any country. The Biden government plans to honor them with a candle lighting service in Washington on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Walgreens sites will begin to immunize Maine residents aged 70 or older this week. It is estimated that 4,680 doses are due to arrive in Maine on Thursday and, although consultations are not yet available, residents should periodically check www.Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine this week.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 43,594 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in Maine, and 658 people have died, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. On Monday, there were 72 people hospitalized with COVID-19, including 22 in intensive care and six on a ventilator. The number of hospitalizations has dropped dramatically since the peak of 207 on 13 January.

“Overall, there are a lot of positive signs on the horizon,” said Nirav Shah, director of Maine’s CDC, on the Maine Calling public radio program on Monday morning. Shah warned that one of the main risks is the arrival of a more contagious variant of COVID-19 – first detected in the UK – which has now been detected in two people in Maine.

But Shah said that with an aggressive vaccination program and continued use of public health measures like wearing masks, avoiding crowds and being physically distant from others, it is possible to stay ahead of the variants and reduce cases.

The reduction in cases and hospitalizations occurs at the same time that COVID-19 vaccinations are increasing in Maine, with a total of 296,253 injections administered, including 200,322 first doses and 95,931 second doses. Those who received at least the first dose of the vaccine now make up 14.9 percent of Maine’s 1.3 million population.

For the elderly – a major focus of the vaccine launch since mid-January – 103,198 of the state’s 193,000 inhabitants aged 70 and over have already received at least the first dose of the vaccine. The next to receive the vaccine will be the elderly aged 65 and over, which may happen as early as next week, although state health officials have not committed themselves to a set schedule.

Meanwhile, Maine is expected to receive a 14% increase in vaccine doses this week, with more than 27,000 doses sent. In addition, the federal government’s pharmaceutical partnership is expected to double the number of doses available in Maine this week at Walmart, Sam’s Club and now at Walgreens, from around 4,300 doses per week available to people aged 70 and over to nearly 9,000 doses. . The 9,000 doses add up to the 27,000 doses sent to the state vaccination program, providing Maine with about 36,000 doses to administer. That is almost double the number a few weeks ago, when Maine routinely received about 18,000 doses a week.

Shah said that although vaccine doses are more plentiful, supplies are still the biggest obstacle to immunizing more groups of people, such as youth and frontline workers, including teachers. He said that if the supply increases in the coming weeks, the state could “open the door more” to widespread vaccination.

Two Westbrook City officials tested positive for COVID-19, the city announced on Sunday. The City Hall will be closed until March 1, as the building undergoes a thorough cleaning and all employees are tested.

This story will be updated.

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