Maine's coronavirus case total remains flat, with no new deaths - Press Herald

The total number of coronavirus cases in Maine was unchanged overall on Wednesday, as state health officials reported 28 new infections but also adjusted earlier figures downward based on subsequent testing.

There were no additional deaths among individuals with COVID-19.

A window painting at Starbucks on Congress Street depicts a mask-wearing woman. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 25 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as well as three new probable cases of the disease for a total of 28 during the previous 24-hour period.

But Maine’s overall case numbers remained flat at 3,723 because of other adjustments based on follow-up testing and the way cases are tracked by the Maine CDC.

Four individuals turned out to be non-residents of Maine so their cases were transferred to health agencies in their home states consistent with policies in place in Maine and other jurisdictions. To date, roughly 120 residents of other states have tested positive in Maine, with many of those New Hampshire residents who receive their health care in Maine.

But another 21 probable cases were dropped from Maine CDC’s case totals on Wednesday because subsequent testing showed the individuals were negative with COVID-19. Probable cases include symptomatic individuals who had contact with infected people, or individuals who tested positive on antigen or antibody tests.

Nineteen of those 21 cases were among young people at a summer camp who initially tested positive on an antigen test but came back negative after Maine CDC ran molecular-based tests, which are more accurate, at the state lab. Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine CDC, declined to identify the camp on Tuesday because he said there was no public health threat.

After accounting for the 118 deaths to date and the 3,216 individuals who have recovered from the disease, Maine CDC was reporting 389 active cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. That is a decrease of 25 from Tuesday, attributable in part to the 19 campers who were re-designated as negative after subsequent testing.

This story will be updated.

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