On Tuesday of this week Dr. Nirav Shaw of the Maine CDC reported that since testing began in our state there had been 111 positive tests among non-residents. Dr. Shaw took care to note that “many” of these cases are from people who live in New Hampshire but get their healthcare in Maine. Further, he noted that among the total of 374 people who have so far been hospitalized with COVID-19 in Maine, some of the cases were out-of-staters, though the number was not given. As of today, he notes that there are 13 people hospitalized in Maine with COVID-19, 11 of whom are in ICUs, and 4 of whom are on ventilators.
Today the total number of cases given (posted as of midnight last night) was 3598 cases among Maine residents since testing began (391 probable cases). Subtracting 3094 recoveries, and 114 deaths, we are left with a total of only 390 active cases. The current 7-day average of new cases is 15 per day. Overall, numbers are falling in Maine.
The total number of healthcare workers who have been infected in our state since testing began is 844. As always, if you cannot see the graphic in the email of this post, please view the post on the website.
Maine is doing so much better than many other parts of the country. But those problems can come here. A surge of cases in another state can for example deplete resources such as PPE or testing materials needed everywhere. Speaking of that, it has been a strange week in our country for COVID-19. Every week of this pandemic has been for that matter, but a few points really stand out.
- On Tuesday of this week there were 64,000 new cases in the U.S., and the Trump Administration unilaterally removed the ability of the leading public health agency -the CDC – to collect hospitalization data on COVID-19-requiring hospitals to report elsewhere. That information will now be given to a central database in Washington, in part run by a private company. Health experts around the country are calling this an alarming and unprecedented move because public health data is being taken from the experts who need it. There is also concern the information will be suppressed, spun or politicized.
- The White House and Trump have made disparaging remarks about the country’s leading infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci. We are no longer hearing from Fauci via the the White House. America needs to hear from an expert. I have a feeling that most of America trusts Fauci.
- Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp has sued Atlanta over a mask mandate, even as cases there climb. And, Kemp banned cities in Georgia from ordering people to wear face masks. There have been 127,834 cases of COVID-19 in Georgia (almost 24,000 in the last seven days).
- Nearly a third of the 54,022 children tested for COVID-19 in Florida have been positive (16,797 kids). Four of the children have died, and 213 have been hospitalized. The Trump administration is demanding that schools reopen in the fall.
There are other concerns, lots of them. Where are the checks and balances in our government? Where is the leadership? Where are we going with the out-of-control exponential growth down south and the failure of politicians to recognize it is an emergency?
Note, the links are current as of the time of posting, and are subject to change.
