Maine reported 32 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, as vaccinations continue to tamp down cases and the Mills administration is slated to end its state of civil emergency this week.

The seven-day average of daily new cases was 25.1, compared to 34.9 a week ago and 192.9 a month ago. During the pandemic’s peak in mid-January, Maine was often topping 600 new cases per day. There were no additional deaths Tuesday.

Because of  the state’s high rate of vaccination, COVID-19 cases are under much better control, Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director, said Tuesday on Maine Public’s “Maine Calling” radio show.

“A year ago, COVID mostly controlled us. But now the tables have turned,” Shah said.

The state of emergency, in effect for 15 months, will end Wednesday. The emergency declaration gave Gov. Janet Mills’ administration sweeping powers to enact public health measures such as mandatory masking, gathering and indoor capacity limits, rules for operating schools and other restrictions. Those restrictions have already been repealed, except for federal rules requiring masks when taking public transportation and in airports and on airplanes.

In another sign that conditions in Maine are improving, the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests has declined, from 1.18 percent two weeks ago to 0.77 percent Tuesday. A lower positivity rate means the state is finding most cases of the disease, and is able to more effectively limit its spread through measures such as quarantine and isolation for those who are unvaccinated.

Since the pandemic began, Maine has recorded 69,021 cases of COVID-19 and 858 deaths.

On the vaccination front, 775,491 people in Maine have received their final doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, representing 57.7 percent of the state’s 1.3 million population. Vaccination rates continue to vary widely among Maine counties, with 69 percent of Cumberland County’s population fully vaccinated – tops in the state – compared to 45.3 percent in Somerset County, which has Maine’s worst vaccination rate.

However, immunizations in Maine have slowed to a crawl, with 8,816 doses given in the most recent week ending Monday, compared to 19,699 the previous week. In late April, when Mainers were clamoring for shots, the state was giving about 85,000 to 90,000 doses weekly.

To try to further boost vaccination rates, Maine has launched the “Don’t Miss Your Shot: Vaccinationland Sweepstakes” – the winner will receive $1 for every person in Maine who has had at least one shot. The deadline to register is midnight Wednesday and the winner will be announced July 4.

By 8 a.m. Tuesday, 300,052 people had signed up for the sweepstakes, and the prize amount had risen to $889,014.

Meanwhile, the Maine Hospital Association wants the state to mandate that all health care workers be vaccinated against COVID-19, once federal regulators give full approval for the vaccines.

The vaccines currently in use – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – were approved in 2020 and early 2021 by the Food and Drug Administration under an emergency use authorization. Studies show the vaccines have worked safely and effectively and they’ve been given to millions of people worldwide since December, but the full approval process takes longer.

Health care worker vaccination data published by the Maine CDC last week showed wide variations in vaccination rates among the state’s hospitals and nursing homes.

Shah said during the “Maine Calling” show that discussions with the hospital association about whether there should be a vaccine mandate for health care workers are in the very early stages.

“We are certainly thinking about it, and have had discussions about it,” Shah said. “No decisions have been made.”

Currently, there are 29 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Maine, including 19 people in intensive care.

« Previous

Mal Leary retiring after a 45-year career in journalism

Next »

Maine CDC reports one case of Powassan virus