MAINE, USA — KEY MAINE CORONAVIRUS FACTS
- 53 Mainers have died out of 1,095 confirmed COVID-19 cases
- 179 Mainers have been hospitalized, 631 Mainers have recovered
- Governor Janet Mills has extended Maine's statewide stay-safer-at-home order to May 31
- Read Maine Governor Janet Mills' detailed plan to reopen Maine economy during coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic
- 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 UPDATES
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The Maine CDC reported one additional death due to COVID-19, for a total of 53. The additional death announced Thursday was a woman in her 50s from Cumberland County.
There are now 1,095 confirmed cases, 631 recoveries, and 170 total hospitalizations in Maine.
35 people in Maine are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 18 being treated in intensive care units and 8 on ventilators.
There are now a total of 10 confirmed cases at the Tyson food plant in Portland.
17 guests and 4 staff have tested positive at Hope House in Bangor.
The Maine CDC has been working with social workers, counselors, and chaplains across the state to establish a Spiritual Care Response Team, which helps arrange spiritual guidance and counseling services to any health care worker in Maine who needs it.
The Maine CDC is also working with the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough to organize a memorial service to be held this summer to honor all men and women who have served, as well as everyone at the facility who has been personally affected by COVID-19.
Starting May 4, the Maine CDC will be receiving 15,000 saliva swabs per week. These swabs are a crucial part of coronavirus testing. The Maine CDC will also be receiving 11,200 viral transport media per week. Viral transport media is the gel that's used to transport swabs for testing and Maine CDC has been experiencing a shortage of it.
Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman spent time during Thursday's briefing to talk about the expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. People can begin applying Friday, May 1 at 8 a.m.
If you are self-employed, you can now provide documentation of your earnings after you receive your initial benefits. Fortman said she made this decision to more quickly put money in the pockets of Maine’s self-employed.
More info on the program and the expanded eligibility can be found here:
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- 2020 Beach to Beacon road race canceled due to coronavirus, COVID-19
- No splashdown at Funtown this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic
- COVID-19 outbreak identified at Hope House shelter in Bangor with 20 total cases
- Maine Department of Labor to accept expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance applications starting May 1
- Portland-area restaurant and bar owners confused about governor's plan to reopen amid coronavirus
- Charter, independent schools dealing with unique challenges during the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic
- Having antibodies does not mean you're immune to COVID-19, coronavirus
- If you're struggling with substance abuse residential treatment programs are open during coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic
- Road to recovery: Falmouth woman shares personal story of coronavirus, COVID-19 diagnosis
- Wilton Blueberry Festival postponed until 2021 amid coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland OKs parking lot Masses with strict protocols
- Maine drive-in theaters will be allowed to open in May as part of the coronavirus economic recovery plan
- Portland preps for plan to reopen businesses following the coronavirus
- John Krasinski's 'Some Good News' will honor Class of 2020 graduates
- Maine Lobster Festival 2020 canceled, rescheduled for 2021 amid coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic
- Protecting your car during quarantine amid COVID-19
TAKE A MOMENT FOR 'A BREATH OF FRESH AIR'
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'
MAINE CDC BRIEFINGS
MAINE CORONAVIRUS CASES
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.