The number of COVID-19 cases remains at high levels in Maine

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday reported 600 new cases of COVID-19 and five more deaths as the infectious disease continued to exert its grip on the state.

The rate of new infections, hospitalizations and positive tests has declined in recent weeks, although Friday still saw 467 new cases of the coronavirus – well above the lows reported by Maine earlier in the year. Last week, experts said growing resistance to the disease from vaccines and past infections could be a factor in the slight decrease in the number of cases, although they warned that geographic pockets are still seeing high levels. transmission.

Cumulative COVID-19 cases in Maine rose to 94,948 on Saturday. Of these, 67,658 have been confirmed by testing and 27,290 are considered probable cases of COVID-19.

Maine hospitals had 156 COVID-19 patients on Saturday, an increase of three from the previous day. A total of 44 of Saturday’s patients were in intensive care and 23 on ventilators. The state had 51 intensive care unit beds out of a total of 330 and 207 ventilators out of 304.

One thousand and seventy-five people have died from COVID-19 in Maine since the start of the pandemic.

Cumberland County Jail remains closed amid COVID-19 outbreak. The detainees and their relatives denounce the restrictive conditions, which include keeping detainees inside except for 20 minutes in the morning and evening. Prison officials have publicly stated that inmates are locked up 23 hours a day.

At the last count, seven staff members and 12 inmates had tested positive for the disease. A staff shortage contributes to the problems of the prison; this year’s county budget provides for 129 staff, and the prison currently has only 65. Inmates interviewed by the Press Herald last week said there was increased tension between inmates and staff , and they said some correctional officers act less humane towards their charges. because of the pressure.

As of Saturday morning, Maine had given 885,008 people the last dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of those 12 years of age and older, the population currently eligible for vaccination, 74.73 percent are now fully vaccinated.

Maine, as of Oct. 1, had recorded 4,167 “groundbreaking” cases, which occur when a fully vaccinated person contracts COVID-19. Unvaccinated people still make up the vast majority of cases and are also much more likely to have more serious illness if they catch the illness. By comparison, there have been a total of 55,489 cases since COVID-19 vaccines became available to Mainers.

The Maine CDC typically updates its breakthrough figures every week, but has been delayed recently due to a change in its reporting methods, according to the agency’s website.

County by county on Saturday, there had been 10,099 coronavirus cases in Androscoggin, 3,521 in Aroostook, 20,859 in Cumberland, 1,995 in Franklin, 2,474 in Hancock, 9,055 in Kennebec, 1,739 in Knox, 1,666 in Lincoln, 4,648 in Oxford, 11,258 in Penobscot, 1,215 in Piscataquis, 1,840 in Sagadahoc, 3,814 in Somerset, 2,170 in Waldo, 1,602 in Washington and 16,991 in York.

By age, 20.6% of patients were under 20, while 17.9% were in their twenties, 15.4% in their thirties, 13.2% in their forties, 13.7% in their fifties, 9.9% in their 60s, 5.4% were in their 70s, and 4% were 80 or older.

Globally on Saturday afternoon, there were 237.4 million known cases of COVID-19 and 4.84 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has recorded 44.3 million cases and 712,856 deaths.

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