24 New Cases, 34 More Recovered as Stage 2 Begins in Maine
In an abundance of caution, the State Emergency Operations Center, where the Maine CDC normally holds their broadcast briefings, remains in virtual mode while they take all precautions necessary to make the facility safe for staff.
Dr. Nirav Shah announced on today's Zoom call that the total number of cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Maine is now at 2,349, an increase of 24 since Sunday. 2,093 of those cases are confirmed while 256 are deemed probable.
1,586 people diagnosed with COIVD-19 have recovered, an increase of 34.
One new deaths was reported, bringing the total number to 89.
The total number of active cases is 674, a decrease of 9.
284 patients have had to be hospitalized at some point. 52 are currently hospitalized with 17 of those in critical care and 10 patients on ventilators.
A new statistic that is now being reported by the Maine CDC is the number of tests for COVID-19 that have been performed. This will replace the stat of how many individuals have been tested. That weekly reported cumulative number of tests that have been performed is 49,792. That number is updated each Wednesday.
Governor Janet Mills extended Maine's State of Emergency to June 11 allowing the state government to use resources to protect the health and safety of Mainers and to continue to receive Federal resources. The Stay Safer at Home Order is effect until further notice.
Stage 2 of Maine's phased plan to reopen the State began on June 1 and raises the prohibition on gatherings of more than 10 people to 50. People who are able to work from home should continue to do so, and people should wear cloth face coverings in public settings where physical distancing measures are hard to maintain.
If the Maine CDC detects any resurgence of the virus, the state will slow down the stages and reinstate restrictions.
The counties affected by the current rural reopening plan are Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington, Hancock, Somerset, Franklin, Oxford, Kennebec, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln and Sagadahoc. All of these counties have not had shown evidence of community transmission of COVID-19.
Restaurants in these counties may open for outdoor dining and for limited dine-in service providing they adopt health and safety precautions, such as physically distancing customers, making sure employees follow enhanced hygiene and sanitation practices and controlling customer flow by making reservations only whenever possible. Restaurants in Cumberland, York, and Androscoggin counties may open for outdoor dining and take-out only.
Retail stores statewide may now open to customers provided they adopt the health and safety precautions that the state is releasing. The precautions include restricting the number of customers in the store at any one time, enhancing cleaning and sanitation practices, and maximizing touch free transactions wherever possible.
<a href="https://www.maine.gov/covid19/restartingmaine">For a more complete listing of the stages and the governor's layout of those stages, click here.</a>
<a href="https://www.maine.gov/decd/covid-19-prevention-checklists" target="_blank">Click or tap here to see the state's modified COVID-19 prevention checklist.</a>
If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, including a runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, fever and in severe cases, difficulty breathing, the Maine CDC says you should call your doctor before going in so that they can prepare for your arrival. The Maine CDC continues to update with new information daily. Keep checking on our mobile app or website to get the latest.