AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is investigating multiple cases of COVID-19 in Maine and out of state that are linked to the construction site of a planned Maine Veterans’ Homes residential care facility in Augusta, according to NEWS CENTER Maine's partners at the Portland Press Herald.
Two Maine residents associated with the job site have tested positive for COVID-19 and are quarantining, an agency spokesman told NEWS CENTER Maine. Maine CDC has been notified that other individuals associated with the job site tested positive in another state and are quarantining in that state.
“Maine CDC’s investigation is focused on other individuals who might have been exposed at the site, as well as close contacts of individuals who tested positive,” Maine CDC spokesman Robert Long said. “The investigation involves employees of multiple contractors.”
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"It may not have been the worksite that was the place of transmission, but it could have been the fact that they were rooming with one another, or socializing with one another," said Dr. Nirav Shah of the Maine CDC at Friday's afternoon briefing. "Our epidemiologists are in the process of interviewing folks."
Cianbro Corp., a prominent Northeast regional construction company headquartered in Pittsfield, is the general contractor in charge of the project. According to the Portland Press Herald, VJS Construction Services of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is a partner on the project.
The Portland Press Herald said Cianbro representatives did not respond to multiple calls and emails over three days this week asking for further information about the infections and steps the company and its subcontracts took to prevent coronavirus transmission at the construction site.
Construction of the facility is scheduled to be finished in 2021.
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