Maine reported 41 new deaths on Friday, the deadliest record of additional deaths from COVID-19 in a day in the state since the pandemic began. There were 782 new cases of the disease, also a record.
Overall, Maine had 28,407 COVID-19 cases and 426 deaths. The previous record for a day was 748 on December 23.
For deaths, the highest total for a day was 20 on December 1, although deaths are often not reported to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the same day. Deaths recorded on a given day are usually a net increase in deaths that occurred within a few days.
Deaths have increased in Maine since December 1, more than doubling the state total. Since the end of November, the cumulative death toll in Maine has risen from 194 to 426.
Dr. John Alexander, medical director at Central Maine Healthcare in Lewiston, said on Thursday that he is concerned.
“Unfortunately, we will see this growth trend for some time,” said Alexander. “One leads to the other. The cases lead to hospitalizations and, subsequently, result in deaths ”.
Treatments for COVID-19 have improved since spring, and patients are more likely to survive. But the disease is still deadly, about five times as deadly as the flu for hospitalized patients, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. Nirav Shah, director of Maine CDC, will give a briefing to the media at 2 pm today.
This story will be updated.
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