COVID-19 hits Maine with 624 new cases, 3 more deaths

State health officials on Thursday reported 624 new cases of COVID-19, the highest daily total since the pandemic peaked last January.

The latest wave that began in early July continues in Maine as the most contagious delta variant increases infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths in the state. In addition to the 624 new cases – the biggest single-day jump since January 22 – the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday reported three more deaths linked to COVID-19.

With new positive test results pouring into the state lab, Maine CDC staff have been working hard to review and treat all new cases. As a result, some of Thursday’s cases could include new infections reported to the state over several days.

But the seven-day average shows the steady upward trajectory of new cases. The average stood at 316 on Thursday, nearly double the average from two weeks ago or an incubation period and higher than ever since late April.

The Maine CDC has followed 76,913 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 since the coronavirus was first detected in the state in March 2020. With the three additional deaths reported Thursday, there are now at least 937 COVID-19-related deaths in the state during the pandemic.

New hospitalization figures were not yet available Thursday morning. But on Wednesday, 150 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, which was the highest figure since February 4. Of these, 66 are in intensive care and 26 on ventilators. The total number of hospitalizations has tripled in less than a month and the number of people in intensive care has reached levels not seen since the winter.

However, Maine continues to have one of the lowest infection and death rates in the country, both for the current outbreak caused by the delta variant and for the pandemic as a whole. Maine ranks just behind Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts in terms of states with the highest proportion of their population that has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

As of Thursday, 71.6% of eligible Mainers and 63% of 1.3 million residents had received the full dose regimen required for a full vaccination. Inoculation rates have risen again in recent weeks, after dropping in late spring and early summer as the delta variant causes new infections and vaccination mandates for some workers have been imposed.

This story will be updated.

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