Maine reports 738 COVID-19 cases as state continues to face backlog

Maine reported 738 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths on Friday as the state continues to push its way through a backlog of positive test results.

The daily toll brings to 90,727 the cumulative number of cases since the start of the pandemic. A total of 1,022 people have died.

The state recently reported some of its highest numbers of single-day pandemic cases, but a backlog of positive tests caused by the delta variant wave means the reported numbers reflect cases reported over multiple days. Friday’s cases, for example, were originally reported to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention over a period dating back to September 21.

Maine’s infection rate of 42 cases per day per 100,000 population in the past seven days is higher than in all other northeastern and central Atlantic states except Delaware, which has a rate of 47 cases per day, according to the Brown School of Public Health Global Outbreak Tracker. The national rate is 34 new cases per day per 100,000 population in the past seven days.

Hospitals in Maine were treating 211 COVID-19 patients on Friday, up from 226 on Thursday and a pandemic high of 235 last Saturday. The number of such patients in intensive care units rose from 71 on Thursday to 67 on Friday. Of these, 27 were breathing using ventilators.

Maine is also seeing an increase in cases and epidemics in schools.

In the past 30 days, schools have reported 2,578 COVID cases and 108 outbreaks. Epidemics account for about 15 percent of schools, but do not necessarily reflect transmission at school. Officials continue to say that full in-person learning can take place safely as long as schools continue to adhere to health and safety protocols such as universal indoor masking and vaccinations for those who are eligible.

While there are subtle signs that the current push may be easing, the rapid spread of the delta variant in the region continues to strain the capacity of Maine hospitals. On Thursday, 226 people were hospitalized, including 71 in intensive care and 28 on a ventilator. New information on hospitalizations was not immediately available on Friday morning.

The seven-day average of new daily cases is 593, up from 485 two weeks ago.

A statewide vaccination mandate for hospital staff and many other healthcare workers goes into effect on Friday, although Governor Janet Mills said the application will be delayed until Oct. 29 to give workers have more time to get vaccinated.

The warrant is being challenged in court, but a federal judge has yet to issue an order in a lawsuit to block the warrant.

In the United States, reports of new cases are steadily declining as much of the country surpasses the late summer outbreak. The United States reported 116,090 new cases on Friday and had a daily seven-day average of 111,210. This is down from a seven-day average of 150,376 two weeks ago, according to the New York City. Times.

This story will be updated.

” Previous

Next ”

Related stories