The Maine CDC on Wednesday confirmed two more deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 7.
The number of confirmed cases also rose to 344 on Wednesday. 80 people have recovered, and 63 have been hospitalized at some point.
Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah says the latest deaths were two women in their 80s from Cumberland County.
There are now cases in 13 out of Maine’s 16 counties.
Shah says there are now two confirmed case among people who spent time at the Oxford Street Shelter in Portland. Dr. Shah says officials were prepared for cases among the homeless population, but says details about their planned response will be forthcoming.
Shah says the state will continue to increase testing, and said that, as of Wednesday, the state could conduct 4,000 tests. That’s in addition to the testing being done by commercial labs.
He also said 15 testing platforms from Abbott Laboratories in Scarborough, which can give results within minutes, will be coming online. Shah highlighted the importance of those tests, saying they will help reduce the demand for personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
The backlog of testing has dropped significantly to 400. That’s down from 1,300 last week. Those pending tests are considered low-risk individuals.
Asked about the effect social distancing is having on the curve of new cases in Maine, Shah says it’s still too early to tell, but that social distancing is the “best vaccine we have right now.” He says data from cell phones and turnpike officials show a drastic drop in travel — an indication that individuals are heeding warnings to stay home.
