The Maine CDC on Monday confirmed 499 cases of coronavirus in the state, an increase of 29 cases since Sunday.
158 people have recovered, and 92 have been hospitalized at some point. There have been 10 recorded deaths.
There are now confirmed cases in 15 out of 16 counties, with Piscataquis County the only one not reporting any confirmed cases. York and Cumberland counties remain the only places in the state where community transmission has been confirmed, but health officials warn that it could be happening elsewhere.
During his daily press briefing, Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said distribution of PPE, or personal protective equipment, will focus on places where it’s needed most, like long-term care facilities and nursing homes.
Shah recommends wearing a cloth mask when you’re out in public, but says it’s more to protect others from getting sick. He says it’s also not a substitute for social distancing.
As hospitals around the state prepare for a possible surge in COVID-19 patients, Shah says that, as of Monday, 120 of the state’s 300 ICU beds are available. 268 out of 320 ventilators are available. The state also has close to 200 “alternative” ventilators available and 130 respiratory therapists.
Shah says the state is working on field hospital modules that could be deployed in partnership with hospitals in southern Maine, with such facilities possibly being set up in northern and central Maine as well.
