As new cases of the coronavirus ease in much of Maine, 166 people were in hospitals statewide with the illness on Saturday, two fewer than the day before.

Wastewater testing for COVID-19 presence in many of Maine's larger cities and towns is showing a drop-off in virus prevalence.

There were 566 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Thursday. Hospitalizations have decreased by 28 percent since May 17.

The number of hospital patients with the virus has declined for eight straight days.

More than one-third of the U.S. population lives in areas considered high risk with the Northeast hit the hardest.

Researchers believe long COVID may affect up to 30% of people who get COVID-19, though some studies have found that being vaccinated may reduce a person’s risk of developing long COVID if they catch COVID-19.

While daily case counts have declined from earlier this month, new omicron subvariants continue to circulate and drive a wave of infections.

The 18 million children under 5 are the only group in the U.S. not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

The number of hospital patients with COVID-19 has dropped 12 percent since last week.

Despite a decline in reported cases, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says of the virus, "It's not over anywhere until it's over everywhere.'

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 205 patients on Sunday, down from 214 the day before.

The pandemic was a breaking point for those of us who practiced medicine day in and day out in a pared-down environment where colleagues and staff were burning out and demoralized

The country has spent nearly all of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan that was dedicated directly to COVID-19 response.