The Portland Press Herald’s analysis of hospital data suggests social distancing is keeping hospitals from being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases, but experts say Mainers should stay the course to prevent a surge.
Colin Woodard
Colin Woodard is the Press Herald’s State and National Affairs Writer, and is often at work on large investigative projects. Born in Waterville and raised in western Maine, he was a foreign correspondent for two decades, reported from more than fifty countries on all seven continents, and witnessed the collapse of communism and its bloody aftermath in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He’s written five books, including histories of Maine (The Lobster Coast), North America’s rival regional cultures (American Nations) and the Golden Age Pirates (Republic of Pirates), which was turned into a quickly forgotten NBC mini-series starring John Malkovich as Blackbeard. Since joining the Press Herald in 2012, he’s won a George Polk Award and was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting. He used to be an avid sailor and SCUBA diver, but with small kids at home, his hobbies now include sleeping and picking up toys.
Chebeague Island ferry will carry suspected COVID-19 patients after all
Assistance from the Mills administration helped resolve insurance issues, the company says.
Why didn’t Maine get any ventilators from the federal stockpile?
It’s unclear. But the state will have to make do with alternative ventilators if a worst-case COVID-19 surge hits hospitals.
Maine lags New England states in reporting data on pandemic
A month into the outbreak here, the state CDC still is unable to post daily testing counts and other information.
Maine doesn’t know how many COVID-19 patients are hospitalized
More than 3 weeks into the outbreak, the state doesn’t have complete, daily data from all hospitals.
Chebeague Island ferry won’t transport suspected COVID-19 patients
The island town’s primary ferry responds to emergency calls but says it won’t transport anyone suspected to be infected with the coronavirus.
Lapses in hospitals’ reporting left Maine CDC lacking key data
As the agency has prepared for a surge in coronavirus cases, not all hospitals have shared numbers of intensive care unit beds and ventilators.
Maine scrounges for medical supplies, but little more is expected from feds
The state is preparing for a surge of patients, but its allocation from the federal stockpile is tiny.
Maine company led by man facing fraud indictments delivers masks as promised
Noble Partners’ Diane Russell drove to New Jersey over the weekend to pick up and personally deliver the coveted gear to customers in Massachusetts.
Maine company taking orders for masks and COVID-19 tests as its founder faces fraud charges
Noble Medical Supply is taking orders from hospitals and firefighters for millions of masks while its founder and CEO is under criminal indictment on charges of securities fraud and theft by deception.