Maine has reported another increase in the number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

A total of 130 patients were hospitalized statewide as of Tuesday morning, including 24 in critical care and three on ventilators, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That is up from 128 on Monday and up from 109 one week ago – a 19 percent increase in seven days.

The patient counts include some individuals who test positive but are hospitalized for other reasons. Unlike in some states, Maine’s data does not differentiate. Most patients who are hospitalized because of severe COVID symptoms or complications are older and have underlying medical conditions or are younger and unvaccinated, health officials say.

Maine’s CDC also reported five additional COVID-related deaths. The state did not post an update on new cases Tuesday. The agency  typically does not process case numbers on weekends or holidays.

Cases and hospitalizations are rising nationwide and around the world as the latest omicron subvariants spread and increase transmission rates.

While the state has seen some rise in cases numbers, Maine has one of the lowest infection rates in the country, with only New Hampshire and Vermont having fewer new cases per capita. Maine recorded 111 cases per 100,000 residents in the seven-day period ending last Friday. The national rate was 232 cases per 100,000 people.

Since the pandemic began, Maine has recorded  270,331 cases and 2,424 deaths.

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