Maine’s surge of COVID-19 cases took no break on the weekend.
Maine health officials reported four more deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, which brings the total death toll to 1,336 since the pandemic began. Of those deaths, 686 were males, 650 females.
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 876 new cases of COVID-19, up from 795 new cases just one day ago, bringing the cumulative total of cases in Maine to 123,118.
Saturday’s numbers also showed that younger people continue to make up the largest percentage of cases: People less than 20 years old represented a whopping 23.4 percent of cases, and people in their 20s made up 16.5 percent. Meanwhile, older Mainers make up the lowest rate of cases: Those in their 70s represented 5.3 percent of cases Saturday, and those in their 60s made up 9.7 percent.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to rate transmission rates high in every Maine county, and recommends mask wearing in indoor, public settings.
Statewide, the number of COVID-19 patients sick enough to be hospitalized Saturday was 329, the 11th consecutive day that statistic stood at a 300 or more people. Of those, 104 were in critical care, 52 on ventilators. One week ago, 40 were on ventilators.
With record numbers of hospitalizations, the pandemic continues to create hardships on hospital workers. MaineGeneral spokesperson Joy McKenna said in an email that the Augusta hospital has been fortunate to be able to maintain inpatient services, but with the holiday season here, “we are asking all Maine people to take steps to stay healthy and, in regards to COVID, to get vaccinated.”
Two out of every three patients hospitalized are unvaccinated, the CDC has said, and about 90 percent of those in critical care have not been vaccinated.
Statewide, 68.6 percent of all Mainers have been fully vaccinated.
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