The Maine CDC reported seven new deaths and 590 additional cases of the coronavirus Tuesday morning.
The new report raises the statewide death toll to 333, and nearly 23,000 cases have been reported since mid-March.
At Monday’s coronavirus briefing, Maine CDC director Dr. Nirav Shah said the state expects another spike in COVID-19 cases because of people traveling and gathering around christmas, and a corresponding increase in testing.
Dr. Shah says all of those factors point to an increasing number of positive tests in the coming days.
He said the state saw a similar increase after Thanksgiving, so hospitals are prepared for the expected surge.
Maine’s vaccination effort continued Tuesday. As of late Monday morning, more than 17,000 people had received their first dose of a vaccine.
Maine’s initial doses have been going to front-line health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities, but distribution of vaccines to EMS workers is ramping up this week.
More than 19,000 doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are expected to arrive in Maine this week.
