MAINE, USA — KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS
- 24 Mainers have died out of 770 confirmed COVID-19 cases
- 126 Mainers have been hospitalized, 305 Mainers have recovered
- Governor Janet Mills orders National Guard and MEMA to help open alternative coronavirus care sites in Portland and Bangor
- Governor Janet Mills has extended Maine's 'civil state of emergency'. She has also issued a 'Stay Safe at Home' order and ordered all out-of-staters coming to Maine to quarantine for 14 days.
- A timeline of the coronavirus pandemic in Maine
- Filing for unemployment still dominating discussions around Maine. Here's our story on how to file for Maine unemployment. You can scroll down for more more resources available to Mainers
- Local businesses are the backbones of our communities. NEWS CENTER Maine cares about our state and asks that you support your local business and restaurants right now. If you are a business owner, please register your business. If you want to support a local business, enter your zip code and find out what’s OPEN NEAR YOU.
- Subscribe to 'break time with NEWS CENTER Maine' our new newsletter. Delivered to your email inbox for your break time.
LATEST CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 4:45 p.m.
The Maine CDC is reporting 770 confirmed cases, 24 deaths, and 305 recoveries.
The additional four deaths announced Wednesday are:
- A man in his 80s from Androscoggin County
- A woman in her 70s from Cumberland County
- Two men in their 70s from Cumberland County
There was an increase of 36 confirmed cases since Tuesday, bringing the total to 770; 126 have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. Currently there are 26 individuals hospitalized in regular beds, and 22 are in intensive care.
Nine people remain on ventilators at this time.
Of those who have tested positive, 166 are health care workers, a total of about 21 percent of the confirmed cases.
Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah emphasized their focus has remained on long-term care facilities, because they are the highest populations of risk.
The Maine CDC has now identified an outbreak at The Cedars retirement facility in Portland, with five total cases--three cases are residents and two are staff members.
There are three other outbreaks at long-term care facilities across the state:
- At the Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough there have been no changes since Tuesday's update: 38 confirmed cases among residents and staff and two deaths.
- There are a total of 69 cases among staff and residents at the Augusta Health and Rehabilitation facility, and two deaths.
- At the Tall Pines facility in Waldo County there has been one additional confirmed case since Tuesday's update, bringing the total to 25 among staff and residents.
On Tuesday the Maine CDC says they delivered 18,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to facilities statewide. The shipments went to long-term care facilities, because of their vulnerability to COVID-19, but Dr. Shah says they are continuing to ship PPE orders to the community and first responders. The Maine CDC says 923 orders have been filled in total.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) delivered 140,000 N95 to the Maine CDC on Tuesday, which are being added to the state inventory and will soon be available for shipment as more orders come in.
12 p.m.
The Maine CDC is reporting 770 confirmed cases, 24 deaths, and 305 recoveries.
Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah's daily press briefing has been delayed because of the need to focus on the Androscoggin Mill situation. More information will be forthcoming from Maine CDC. NEWS CENTER Maine will carry the press conference on-air, website, mobile app, YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter.
Dr. James Jarvis said during Northern Light Health's media availability Wednesday that it is only testing people who are at the highest risk.
Dr. Jarvis said right now Northern Light Health is not focused on who can and cannot pay for care. They are focused on caring for those who need it.
WEDNESDAY UPDATES:
- Coronavirus live updates: 71% of Americans cautious about returning to pre-quarantine ways
- What can the weather tell us about how coronavirus spreads in America? Researchers are investigating
- Coronavirus is 'a very real issue' for U.S. farming, but its direct impact may vary
- IRS stimulus check status tracker is now online | Here's what you need to know
- A year after blaze, Notre Dame restoration halted by coronavirus
- Renys kicks off curbside pickup shopping amid coronavirus pandemic
- Mainers take to hiking amid stay home order
- 7-year-old battles cancer for a second time, during COVID-19 pandemic
- Social distancing may need to continue to 2022, Harvard study finds
- 'Dangerous as it sounds': Bill Gates critical of Trump cutting WHO funds
MAINE CDC BRIEFINGS
- Portland enforcing new dog leashing rules during coronavirus pandemic
- Coronavirus live updates: Estimates say a quarter of North Dakota oil wells sit idle
- Governor extends state of emergency as CDC battles coronavirus in nursing homes
- 'Quarantine Kitchen' goes viral spreading the love for cooking during coronavirus, COVID-19
- 4th grade teacher creates funny videos to connect with students amid coronavirus, COVID-19
- It's worth a walk around Artists' Bridge in Newry
- Maine, N.H. Delegation urge DOD to reinstate paid leave policy at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
- New Hampshire COVID-19, coronavirus cases continue to rise
- How to properly wear face masks to prevent coronavirus spread
- Additional $600 in unemployment benefits coming next week, call-in times extended
- Making comfort food with what is in the cupboard
- Emergency management agencies brace for storms while fighting the coronavirus
- How to improve your social life while COVID-19 social distancing
RESOURCES
- Maine food resources and retail adjustments
- How to file for Maine unemployment
- Will you get a stimulus check if you receive Social Security or disability, or didn’t file a tax return?
- Stimulus check calculator: See how much you'll likely be getting
- Millions of Americans will soon get stimulus checks. But here's who won't.
- Maine small businesses can apply for 'forgivable loans'
- Maine school and business closings
- What shelter-in-place, stay-at-home orders mean
- What Homeland Security deems 'essential businesses'
Coronavirus, COVID-19 Background
The official name for the coronavirus is “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes is named “coronavirus disease 2019” or “COVID-19” for short. Coronavirus is a family of viruses, which can infect people and animals. The viruses can cause the common cold or more serious diseases like SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.
The CDC says symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and in some cases sore throat.
The CDC says there are simple steps to take to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay home while you're sick and avoid close contact with others
The Maine Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Tuesday, March 10 that they would be holding daily coronavirus briefings with director Dr. Nirav Shah to keep the public up to date on the situation in Maine. You can find all the previous Maine CDC briefings here.