Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah and Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew of the Maine (*4*) of Health and Human Services gave a weekly replace on Maine’s response to the coronavirus on Wednesday.
From an replace on the case backlog to masking in faculties and testing, listed below are the highest things you need to know:
There continues to be a case backlog
The state has been reporting a rise in instances in current days. However, Shah assured Mainers that it’s not due to a superspreader occasion however the state’s persevering with backlog of 1000’s of optimistic COVID exams. The backlog in instances now stands at 30,030, however the state is working to clear that through the use of AI bots.
Maine is increasing testing
Originally meant for individuals who didn’t have easy accessibility to exams, Gov. Janet Mills has expanded Project ACT exams – funded by the Rockefeller Foundation — to all Maine households. Every family is eligible for an order of 5 at-home fast exams via accesscovidtests.org. One order is allowed per family and can be delivered via Amazon one week after ordering.
Maine CDC might change masking suggestions for faculties
Previously, the Maine CDC allowed faculties to droop contact tracing in faculties supplied that they’d a masks requirement in place. Shah stated they’re “consciously uncoupling” that, and can enable faculties to droop tracing no matter whether or not mandates are in place.
Following the beginning of college trip subsequent week, the Maine CDC may also revisit its masking suggestions for faculties which was that each one workers and college students wore masks. In collaboration with superintendents, Shah stated the company will take a look at traits, the steadiness of traits and any upswings they might happen following the break, earlier than it makes any modifications.
However, there can be a continuation with pooled testing.
Future briefings will occur on an as-needed foundation
The Maine CDC has been livestreaming its briefings each Wednesday at 2 p.m. However, Shah introduced on the finish of this week’s briefing that they’ll now occur on an as-needed foundation. The company will announce when these briefings will happen.
On Wednesday, the Maine CDC additionally introduced that 9 extra Mainers have died and one other 3,556 coronavirus instances reported throughout the state.
It’s the second day in a row when the company reported an elevated variety of virus instances due to the case backlog, making the every day case counts much less dependable indicators of the severity of the virus’ unfold throughout the state. Other indicators, together with falling hospitalizations and wastewater testing, recommend the coronavirus could also be loosening its grip on Maine.
So far, 4,188 Mainers have been hospitalized sooner or later with COVID-19, the sickness attributable to the brand new coronavirus. Of these, 249 are at the moment hospitalized, with 63 in vital care and 29 on a ventilator. The state has been seeing a constant drop in instances the previous couple of weeks, with Shah noting that 344 Mainers have been hospitalized two weeks in the past.
More articles from the BDN
https://bangordailynews.com/2022/02/16/news/4-things-to-know-from-this-weeks-maine-cdc-coronavirus-briefing/
