Maine coronavirus outbreak linked to wedding reception

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The wedding guests attended a reception on Aug. 7 at the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Big Moose Inn is a 37-acre property that includes a restaurant, cabins, and campgrounds near Baxter State Park. The hostel has been hosting weddings since the 1970s and can accommodate 100 people in their Fredericka restaurant, according to their website.

“At this time, we do not know if the outbreak originated at the Big Moose Inn or if there may have been other sites of transmission at other times of the rally,” said Dr Nirav Shah. , director of the Maine CDC, at a press conference on Tuesday.

He added that the reception was a connection point for the group and that the agency was still investigating the outbreak.

“What we know right now is that the reception that took place there on August 7 was a connection point and that there may have been other sources of transmission besides the reception. at Big Moose Inn, ”said Dr. Shah.

CNN has contacted Big Moose Inn for comment and has not received a response.

On Monday, the Maine CDC announced that the wedding reception had about 65 guests. A total of 24 people tested positive for Covid-19 as part of the event, according to the agency. They added that 18 of those cases were people who attended the reception and another six who had close contact with attendees at the reception.

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All of those who have tested positive are residents of the state of Maine, according to the Maine CDC. The state has 4,197 reported cases and 127 reported deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University case tally in the United States.

The agency is conducting contact tracing for customers, staff and people who may have had close contact with people with confirmed cases. They encourage anyone who attended the event and is showing symptoms to contact their healthcare provider.

“What I think is really important in this situation is that this is another reminder that Covid-19 exists all over Maine and can spread very quickly when large groups of people congregate,” Dr Shah said.

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While it is not clear whether the event was held indoors or outdoors, the state’s requirements for large gatherings are currently capped at 50 people for indoor events and 100 people. for outdoor events. If the space cannot accommodate five people per 1,000 feet, fewer individuals can attend, according to orders from the state governor.

“I ask everyone to remember this situation as you attend your own social gatherings,” Dr Shah said. “Things like wearing a face mask and maintaining physical distance are as important today as at any time during the outbreak investigation.

Dave Alsup of CNN contributed to this report.

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