As COVID Trends in Maine Continue to Improve Travel Restrictions Ease
According to the Maine CDC's Friday update, the cumulative number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Maine is now at 45,452 an increase of 25 since Thursday. 35,636 of those cases are confirmed while 9,816 are deemed probable.
There were no new deaths reported of individuals with COVID-19 and one death initially reported as a COVID-19 death from Oxford County has been removed from the list reducing the total number of deaths to 704. 1,560 patients have had to be hospitalized at some point. 69 are currently hospitalized with 23 in intensive care and 8 on a ventilator.
391,148 Mainers have been vaccinated, with 253,135 having had one dose and 138,013 having had both doses.
Governor Janet Mills made a huge announcement today regarding an update to travel restrictions as reported by the Portland Press Herald. Effective immediately those traveling to Maine from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, as well as anyone in the country traveling fully vaccinated or recently had COVID-19 will be exempt from quarantine and testing requirements before visiting. New Hampshire and Vermont already allowed to travel with the exemption.
Exciting news for bars and tasting rooms was also announced. Beginning on March 26th they will be allowed to resume indoor service while adhering to the same guidelines as restaurants.
The state is also increasing the number of people allowed to gather indoors and outdoors in the coming weeks and months which you can get more details on here.
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.
LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions
While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.