The number of students and school staff infected by the virus has increased 75% in two weeks, according to state data.
Health
Posted inHealth, Maine
Lawmakers kill bill that sought to bar state from imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates
In a party-line committee vote Thursday, legislators agreed to leave the door open for possible vaccine requirements down the road
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Posted inHealth, Maine, News, Politics
Committee votes down moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine mandates
The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee votes 7-5 against a bill that originally aimed to prohibit COVID-19 vaccination mandates for five years.
Posted inHealth, Lewiston-Auburn
Maine National Guard members arrive at area hospitals ready to ‘help out where we can’
Nearly 50 members of the Maine National Guard arrived at four area hospitals Thursday morning, joining the more than 200 members who were deployed to facilities across the state late last year on COVID-19 response orders.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
More National Guard members arrive to help Maine hospitals handle omicron surge
A total of 169 Guard members have been dispatched to health care facilities this week to help blunt the variant’s impact on the state’s health care system.
Posted inHealth, Lewiston-Auburn
Additional National Guard members to arrive at area hospitals amid backlog of 46,000 positive COVID-19 tests
The omicron-driven wave of infections has overwhelmed Maine’s disease surveillance systems, the Maine CDC director said Wednesday.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Maine shattered its annual record for overdose deaths in 2021
The 636 deaths, a 23% increase over 2020, are largely the result of fentanyl being added to other drugs. Increased isolation and other pandemic challenges also were factors.
Posted inHealth, Maine, News
Maine CDC overwhelmed by backlog of 46,000 positive COVID-19 tests
The omicron variant has created a flood of positive tests in the past two weeks and the state has been unable to keep up with the screening process, which means the daily numbers have dramatically undercounted the infection rate.
Posted inHealth, Nation / World
U.S. to distribute 400 million N95 masks starting next week
The highly protective face coverings will be available for pickup at pharmacies and community health centers across the country.
Posted inBusiness, Health, Maine, News
66,000 Mainers enroll in first year of state health insurance marketplace
More than 80% of them are receiving financial assistance.