Covid-19 : ‘Ferocious levels’ of virus transmission will spur adjustments to Maine CDC investigations

Maine’s prime public well being official warned Friday that “continued sustained ferocious levels of community transmission” of COVID-19 have pressured the state to contemplate adjustments to the way in which it investigates circumstances.

Maine Heart for Illness Management and Prevention Director Dr. Nirav Shah stated his staff will consider doable adjustments over the weekend, and he would make an announcement Monday.

“For now, I wanted Maine people to hear from me directly about the situation we’re in and the difficult choices we’re facing,” he stated throughout a media briefing.

Though Shah stated no selections have been made, he hinted that the state is contemplating scaling again case investigation and speak to tracing to give attention to probably the most weak populations, which is consistent with what some states have already got finished.

The CDC reported 290 new circumstances of COVID-19 on Friday and 4 further deaths, simply sooner or later after setting a report with 346 circumstances. One other grim report was set this week, when 20 new COVID-19 deaths have been reported Tuesday.

Hospitalizations set a report Friday as nicely – 164 folks have been hospitalized with COVID-19 throughout Maine, which is 20 greater than sooner or later earlier, with 45 in important care and 17 on ventilators. This time final month, 36 folks have been within the hospital with COVID-19.

Shah stated the state opened investigations into 14 new outbreaks simply on Thursday and Friday, and stated there may be some early suggestion that the current spike in circumstances over the previous couple of days is tied to gatherings over the Thanksgiving vacation.

“Things were already acute before and now are becoming more so,” he stated. “I fear that this may sadly be our new normal, and even worse, I expect it to get worse, perhaps even far worse.”

Due to the current tendencies, Gov. Janet Mills introduced Friday that she is extending the state’s curfew of 9 p.m. for eating places and different companies by Jan. 3. It had been set to run out on Sunday.

“It’s too early to know the affect of the Thanksgiving vacation on the unfold of COVID-19 in Maine, however with tons of of individuals getting sick all throughout the state, and plenty of extra dying and so many receiving important care in our overburdened hospitals, we can not afford to let down our guard,” Mills stated in an announcement.

“This targeted step aims to limit evening gatherings in public settings where we know folks are more likely to let their guard down and expose themselves and others to this deadly virus. At the same time, this action allows businesses to stay open for the majority of their operating hours, as long as they comply with basic public health and safety measures.”

The curfew applies to all companies that present seated food and drinks service in addition to indoor amusement venues, film theaters, performing arts venues and casinos.

Steve Hewins, CEO of Hospitality Maine, which represents the restaurant business, stated the extension was not a shock given the spike.

“We remain skeptical of the impact that a 9 p.m. curfew has on reducing these numbers, as most cases seem to be originating in private gatherings,” he stated. “To my knowledge all our restaurant members are adhering to the state’s strict safety standards, because they understand the risk that failure would mean to their employees, customers and the future of their businesses.”

Mills’ workplace identified that the early enterprise closing instances are consistent with actions taken by different states, together with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York, and stated curbside pickup and supply service are nonetheless permitted after 9 p.m.

Shah did announce one coverage change Friday. Consistent with lately up to date pointers from the federal CDC, Mainers who’ve been uncovered to somebody with the virus can now quarantine for 10 days as a substitute of 14. He stated quarantining is nice for public well being as a result of it breaks the prepare of transmission, “but it comes at a great private cost.” He stated the brand new pointers will assist people keep protected whereas returning to their regular lives sooner.

Mills is in quarantine after a member of her safety element examined constructive for COVID-19 and was scheduled to be examined for the virus on Friday. Shah and Lambrew have been requested about Mills, who didn’t attend the briefing, and whether or not her take a look at outcomes have been recognized. Neither answered the query instantly however stated the governor is doing nicely and never experiencing any signs.

Additionally Friday, Mills up to date the state’s color-coded system for colleges and moved Oxford County into the yellow class, the place it joined Androscoggin, Somerset and York counties. A yellow categorization means elevated danger and advises colleges to contemplate further precautions, similar to hybrid studying models or decreasing the variety of folks in lecture rooms. Many colleges, even these in counties with inexperienced designations, already are taking additional security measures.

Franklin and Washington counties, which had been categorized as yellow, moved again to inexperienced as a result of their per capita case charges dipped beneath the state common. All different counties are categorised as inexperienced, though Penobscot County is being carefully monitored as a result of its new case price has been growing quickly.

During the last 30 days, there have been 338 confirmed or possible circumstances related to colleges. There are 28 open outbreaks, however solely 9 of them have greater than 5 circumstances.

Because the pandemic reached Maine in March, the CDC has reported 12,844 confirmed or possible circumstances and 224 deaths. There have been 11 deaths thus far in December. Friday’s deaths have been a person in his 90s from Androscoggin County, a lady in her 80s from Androscoggin County, a lady in her 50s from Oxford County and a person in his 80s from York County.

Final month, 67 folks died from COVID-19, probably the most in any month and greater than the earlier 5 months mixed.

The seven-day common crept again as much as 228 Friday. In 15 of the final 30 days, each day circumstances have gone over 200. Solely 5 instances have circumstances dipped beneath 150, and two of these days have been Thanksgiving, when the state lab was closed, and the day after, when there have been fewer exams to course of. One month in the past, the seven-day common was 98. Two months in the past, it was simply 33 circumstances.

The seven-day positivity price is now 4.87 p.c, thrice what it was one month in the past.

New circumstances have been reported Friday in each county besides Washington. Kennebec County had probably the most, with 51, adopted by Penobscot with 47. There are actually 2,743 energetic circumstances, which is 142 greater than Thursday. In a single week, the variety of energetic circumstances has elevated by 35 p.c.

Instances, hospitalizations and deaths have been setting new information throughout the nation because the winter surge well being specialists predicted has settled in. As of Friday, the variety of U.S. circumstances had topped 14 million, deaths had reached 275,000 and greater than 100,000 have been hospitalized. Extra unfold is more likely to be tied to the Thanksgiving vacation, when many individuals traveled, some throughout state strains.

The worst stretch of the pandemic comes as pharmaceutical corporations and the federal authorities put together to roll out distribution of vaccines this month, though it’s more likely to be nicely into 2021 earlier than vaccinations develop into widespread.

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