Coronavirus case reports up to 253 in Maine - Press Herald

Maine recorded 253 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday, an increase of more than 80 over the weekend, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control.

As of late morning Sunday, the virus, which is particularly dangerous to older people and those with compromised immune systems, had reached 12 of Maine’s 16 counties.

Cumberland County still led in case numbers, with 142 on Sunday, followed by York County, with 47. The Maine CDC has observed community transmission in both counties.

The state reported its first fatality Friday – a Cumberland County man in his 80s whom authorities have not named.

Somerset County saw its first confirmed case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Public health officials are warning all Mainers, however, to take precautions, even if cases haven’t been officially diagnosed in their counties yet.

Meanwhile, the Maine CDC is trying to acquire the medicine and equipment needed to treat patients and keep health workers safe.

A shipment of chemicals for testing recently arrived – enough for 3,000 patients – but even more will be needed, Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said last week.

Maine has 164 intensive care beds total around the state, and 90 were available on Saturday, a CDC spokesman said. The state has 311 ventilators, which are needed for extreme cases where patients are unable to breathe on their own, and 242 were available Saturday.

Shah has cautioned that a sharp rise in cases over a day is not long-term enough for epidemiologists to draw conclusions about a trend in an outbreak. Still, he said in a Twitter post that Saturday’s 43-case increase was “concerning.”

As of Saturday morning, @MEPublicHealth is reporting 211 individuals with #COVID19 statewide, an increase of 43 since yesterday. This is concerning and drives home the fact that #coronavirus is circulating in #Maine. https://t.co/UqG3t2LWHF

— Nirav D. Shah (@nirav_mainecdc) March 28, 2020

Globally, the new coronavirus was approaching 700,000 confirmed cases on Sunday morning. The United States this week became the nation with the most cases, with at least 94,000 on Friday.

Maine has taken emergency measures, closing schools and “non-essential” businesses and encouraging residents to stay indoors, except for such activities as grocery shopping and physical exercise.

As concerns mount about potential transmission of the virus from out-of-state visitors, Maine plans to post messages on electronic sign boards along the turnpike that direct people coming from areas with high infection rates – such as New York – to self-quarantine for at least 14 days.

It is not clear how state authorities will enforce that order.

This story will be updated.

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Sheriff’s office issues notice following felled tree incident on Vinalhaven