Maine recorded its second and third deaths caused by the coronavirus over the weekend, according to Maine Center for Disease Control director Dr. Nirav Shah. Dr. Shah provided an update Monday morning on the spread of COVID-19 in Maine. As of Monday, 275 cases of the virus had been detected in Maine.
Both deaths come from Cumberland County; one was a woman in her 80s and another was a man in his 60s. Both were hospitalized at the time of their deaths.
The number of confirmed cases in Maine grew by 22 from Sunday. Among the 275 confirmed cases, 49 have been hospitalized at some point during their illness, 41 have recovered and been released from isolation and three have passed away. Forty-three cases are healthcare workers. Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of those confirmed cases, according to Dr. Shah.
Monday’s update revealed that Somerset County has its first confirmed case of coronavirus, meaning the virus has now spread to 12 of 16 Maine counties. The Maine CDC is also investigating the possibility of community transmission for the 12 confirmed cases in Penobscot County.
The average age of Mainers who have contracted COVID-19 is 55 years.
Dr. Shah also noted the Maine CDC is investigating and is “especially concerned” with the source of confirmed cases in “congregate settings” such as nursing homes, shelters and other places where high numbers of people live together in close quarters. There are three confirmed cases at a group home in Freeport and three singular cases at group homes and long-term care facilities throughout the state, including one in Leeds.
To date, the state has registered more than 6,000 negative tests. Dr. Shah also noted Maine is set to receive a new shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) including: 60,000 N95 masks, 143,000 procedure masks, 31,000 face shields, 25,000 surgical gowns, 1,500 coveralls and 184,000 gloves. Dr. Shah noted this shipment may be the last Maine receives from the federal government for some time, and the state is looking into ways to produce PPE inside the state.
The state also has 92 intensive care unit beds and 253 ventilators available statewide, as well as 87 alternative ventilators.