PORTLAND, Maine (WGAN) An additional 620 cases of coronavirus and seven virus-related deaths were reported across Maine on Wednesday.
The update brings the state’s 7-day average of new daily cases to 459. That’s down from 489 a week ago, but an increase from 376 reported two weeks ago.
Similarly, hospitalization numbers show the virus does not appear to be slowing down in Maine, even as the latest surge is waning in other states. 209 people with the virus are in Maine’s hospitals, compared to 199 a week ago and 168 two weeks ago.
It comes the same week officials from MaineHealth, which operates Maine Medical Center, held a news conference to discuss ongoing workforce shortages that have strained capacity. They say they expect those issues to continue in the coming months.
“We’re still battling, just a really hot pandemic. We’re seeing the largest numbers of hospitalized patients since the pandemic began, right now,” said Andy Mueller, the chief executive at MaineHealth.
Also on Wednesday, 77% of eligible Mainers had been fully vaccinated. Among all Mainers, including those too young to be eligible, the rate is roughly 68%.
