Maine reported 211 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday and three additional deaths.
The relatively lower daily case count continues a trend since mid-January of case reduction as the state’s vaccination program progresses. Since the start of the pandemic, Maine has recorded 41,630 positive cases of COVID-19 and 639 deaths. The seven-day average of new daily cases was 238.6 on Tuesday, compared with 321.7 the previous week and 540 the previous month. The prevalence of the virus in Maine is similar now to early December, when cases were still on an upward slope.
Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is due to report to the media at 2 pm today.
In another sign that the pandemic is currently subsiding in Maine, the seven-day average of new hospitalizations was 3.1, compared with a peak of 18 in mid-December. Currently, 117 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 in Maine, including 24 in intensive care.
As of Tuesday, 200,927 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered, including 145,894 first doses and 55,033 second doses. Maine ranks eighth among states for people who have received one or more doses, according to the Bloomberg News vaccine tracker, with 10.6% of the population. Alaska is at the top of the country with 15%, and the US average is 10%.
In Maine, Cumberland County residents have so far been vaccinated at the highest rates, with 17,842 doses administered per 100,000 inhabitants, closely followed by Aroostook County with 17,160 doses per 100,000. Somerset County experienced the slowest vaccine launch in Maine, with 8,323 doses administered per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Maine Vaccine Panel.
The number of vaccination sites is expanding, with the Maine CDC sending 1,100 doses of vaccines this week to nine community-based health clinics that provide medical care to underserved communities, many in rural parts of the state. The centers include: Penobscot Community Health Care, Bucksport Regional Health Center, Harrington Family Health Center, Hometown Health Center in Newport, Islands Community Medical Services in Vinalhaven, DFD Russell Medical Centers in central and western Maine and St. Croix Family Health Center in Princeton.
Dr. Logan Murray goes through the vaccine administration process at a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic on the old Scarborough Downs race track. Team photo by Derek Davis Buy this photo
Each site is scheduled to receive 100 doses of Modern vaccine, with the exception of Penobscot Community Health Care in Bangor, which received 300 doses. The shipments are part of the effort to inoculate people aged 70 and over.
Maine CDC expects to receive 21,475 doses this week, an increase of 1,100 doses, but less than half the volume needed to achieve large-scale vaccination.
Teachers are wondering when they will be in line to receive the vaccine. Twenty-six states have publicly released plans to vaccinate teachers, but Maine is not one of them. Governor Janet Mills said at a news conference last week that teachers are “highly valued”, but no decision has been made about when they will start receiving their vaccines.
The next group scheduled to be vaccinated is the 65-69 age group, which is likely to be able to make appointments in the first week of March.
This story will be updated.
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In the implementation of the vaccine, 26 states have plans for teachers to take their vaccines. Maine is not one of them.
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