Maine CDC reports 136 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting 136 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday and no new deaths.The number of Mainers with COVID-19 who have died remains at 705.The 136 additional cases bring the total since the beginning of the outbreak to 45,227.The state has announced that it will begin vaccinating all Maine educators in alignment with the announcement from President Joe Biden that all educators should receive at least one dose of a vaccine by the end of March.According to the Maine Department of Education and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 36,400 school staff and 16,000 child care providers are eligible under the directive. This is in addition to the 10,632 school staff over the age of 60 already eligible under the governor’s age-tiered system. MAINE CORONAVIRUS DATA: Deaths: 705 Total cases: 45,227 Confirmed cases: 35,507 Probable cases: 9,720 Cumulative positivity rate: 2.84% 14-day positivity rate: 1.3% Currently hospitalized: 69 Patients in intensive care: 23 Patients on ventilators: 8Get more detailed COVID-19 data from the Maine CDCMaine COVID-19 Vaccine LatestBeginning March 3, Mainers 60 and older are eligible to be vaccinated.After that, people 50 and older will become eligible in April, people 40 and older in May, people 30 and older in June and people younger than 30 in July.The state has switched to an age-based strategy for the vaccine rollout saying recent scientific data indicates that age is among the strongest predictors of whether an individual is likely to get seriously ill and die from COVID-19.The timeline could be accelerated if the vaccine supply increases.Health care providers offering vaccines MaineHealth: Call 1-877-780-7545 or register here. Northern Light Health: Call 207-204-8551 or make an appointment here. Central Maine Healthcare: Call 207-520-2917 or register here. St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center: Fill out this form. Get more information here. MaineGeneral: Call 1-800-968-8219 or register here. York Hospital: Call 207-752-8685 or register here.Retail pharmacies offering vaccines Walmart Sam’s Club Walgreens HannafordMAINE/NATIONAL COVID-19 VACCINE DATACOVID-19 symptomsPer the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these are the symptoms you should watch out for: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting DiarrheaThis list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC will continue to update this list as they learn more about the virus.Should I get tested for COVID-19? Where can I get a test in Maine?The CDC recommends that you should consider taking a COVID-19 test if you: have symptoms of COVID-19. have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) with someone with confirmed COVID-19. have been asked or referred to get testing by their health care provider, local/external icon or state ​health department.You can look up where to get a COVID-19 test in Maine by visiting Get Tested COVID-19.Emergency care for COVID-19 symptomsThe CDC says to look for emergency warning signs for coronavirus. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately: Trouble breathing Persistent pain or pressure in the chest New confusion Inability to wake or stay awake Bluish lips or faceThis list is not all possible symptoms. Call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you. Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.Maine COVID-19 Resources StrengthenME: The Maine Department of Health and Human Services created StrengthenME to help Mainers cope with the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic. The program offers a hotline that is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone in need of assistance can call the hotline at 207-221-8198. Maine Helps: The Maine Helps website offers ways Mainers can directly help nonprofits, health care and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak. FrontLine WarmLine: Maine Department of Health and Human Services phone line to help Mainers who are working on the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak. The phone line will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day by calling 207-221-8196 or 866-367-4440. The service will eventually include a text option, officials said. 211 Maine: The state’s 211 system can answer general questions about coronavirus from callers. Mainers can also text 898-211 to have their questions answered. NAMI Maine Resources: NAMI Maine is offering several programs to help people with mental health concerns due to the COVID-19 crisis.

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