The new year has ushered in a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, one dominated by the latest variant, omicron, which is spreading faster than any other version of the virus to date. Although Mainers have been adapting to the latest public health recommendations since March 2020, some recent changes have generated uncertainty and confusion. […]
Eric Russell
Staff Writer
Eric Russell has been a general assignment reporter at the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram since 2012 and has been a journalist in Maine since 2004. Because he doesn’t have a specific geographic or topical area to cover, Eric often is free to roam the state in pursuit of the most interesting stories, whether it’s tackling the big topic of the day or chasing ideas that fall just outside the boundaries of everyday news. His favorite assignments are ones where he can leave the office and meet with people in their homes or their workplaces to talk about their struggles and challenges – and sometimes their triumphs. Or to try and answer complicated questions.
Eric grew up in Southern Maine, went to college at the University of Maine and worked in Bangor for eight years before joining the Press Herald. He lives in Brunswick with his wife, a school teacher, and two daughters.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Local & State, News
Walls of affordable housing developments beautified by work of Maine artists
The Maine Art Collective, a group of local artists, has partnered with Community Housing of Maine to install original pieces at housing complexes for seniors and disabled adults in Portland and Hallowell.
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Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
More National Guard members arrive to help Maine hospitals handle omicron surge
A total of 169 Guard members have been dispatched to health care facilities this week to help blunt the variant’s impact on the state’s health care system.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Maine CDC overwhelmed by backlog of 46,000 positive COVID-19 tests
The omicron variant has created a flood of positive tests in the past two weeks and the state has been unable to keep up with the screening process, which means the daily numbers have dramatically undercounted the infection rate.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Dramatic rise in positive COVID test results reveals intensity of omicron surge in Maine
The number of positive tests reported to the state each day has roughly tripled over the past month, further overwhelming the state’s ability to determine which are confirmed new cases and which are followup tests.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Maine hospitals see slight drop in COVID-19 patients
The number of patients still remains above 400, which is double the highest number in Maine hospitals last winter.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Answers to commonly asked questions about the omicron variant
The new year ushered in a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, one dominated by the fast-spreading omicron variant.
Posted inLocal & State, News
New superintendent hired for Long Creek, Maine’s beleaguered youth prison
Lynne Allen comes to Maine from the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services. She succeeds Caroline Raymond, who resigned in September after a series of violent incidents at the South Portland facility.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Southern Maine hospitals inundated as COVID-19 patient numbers hit new high
The omicron variant continues to sweep through Maine and the country, leading to increased hospitalizations and disruptions of schools and businesses.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Front-line health care workers more strained than ever during omicron surge
Nearly two years after COVID-19 first hit Maine, the pandemic is putting an enormous burden on the state’s health care workers and system.