x
Breaking News
More () »

Real-time Maine coronavirus COVID-19 updates: Thursday, June 11

Find developments on the Maine coronavirus, COVID-19 outbreak as we work together to separate facts from fear. Thursday, June 11, 2020.

MAINE, USA — KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

2 p.m.

The Maine CDC reported 0 additional deaths of people who tested positive for COVID-19, meaning the state death total remains at 100.

Of the 2,667 COVID-19 total cases in Maine, 2,380 are confirmed by test and 287 are probable.

2,062 Mainers have recovered from COVID-19

308 Mainers have been hospitalized at some point during their COVID-19 illness. 

By the end of the day Thursday, 2,200 healthcare staff workers will have been fit tested across the state of Maine. There are 700 more on the National Guard's list still to be tested.

Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said they fully recognize the uncertainty and ever-changing nature of the virus. There's a lot of information coming out, and Dr. Shah said the Maine CDC tries to synthesize it for the public and communicate it to lawmakers so that they have the facts when crafting policy.

Dr. Shah said the best way to get tested is to call your primary care doctor or to call one of the sample collection sites and join the standing order. He asks that Mainers please not call the state laboratory in Augusta because that's where samples are tested not where samples are collected.

When asked about the risk of spread due to protests across the state, Dr. Shah said that's always a concern with any large gathering. He also said that if the state sees a spike in cases, it may still be difficult to trace it back to a particular protest or gathering.

Dr. Shah emphasized the importance of people with preexisting conditions taking proper precautions against COVID-19, noting the fact that they are at significantly higher risk of complications from the virus.

OUTBREAK UPDATES

The Maine CDC is continuing its investigation into an outbreak at Abbott Laboratories in Scarborough, trying to figure out if the spread occurred within the facility or outside of it.

The Maine CDC is in the process of collecting samples from all employees of Nichols Manufacturing in Portland, and will be testing them.

At the Proctor & Gamble facility in Auburn, there are now a total of 13 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Five new cases at the facility announced Thursday are among contractors who visited the facility.

Credit: NCM

WEDNESDAY UPDATES

OUTBREAK UPDATES

Nichols Manufacturing in Portland is testing all of its employees after Maine CDC was made aware of an outbreak at the facility on Tuesday.

Maine CDC is investigating an outbreak at Abbott Laboratories in Scarborough, and are in the process of contact tracing employees there.

THE DATA

Dr. Nirav Shah made clear that when the Maine CDC reports deaths, they are reporting that someone has died who had been confirmed positive with COVID-19, not the cause of death specifically. The cause of death determination is left to the medical examiner.  

According to Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah, as of a few days ago, there were roughly 2,900 Mainers tested each week. This includes people tested through the state lab in Augusta, as well as large commercial testing companies like LabCorp. Dr. Shah said right now, the positivity rate is over 5%, meaning for every 100 people tested, about 5 or 6 are positive. Compared to other states, whose positivity rates are 10 or 15%, Maine is doing better, Dr. Shah says. He says he'd like to see Maine's positivity rate around 2%, which is what South Korea's is. To do that, Dr. Shah says testing must increase two or three-fold.

RESOURCES

MAINE CDC BRIEFINGS

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.

NEWS CENTER Maine YouTube Coronavirus Playlist Coverage

Before You Leave, Check This Out