Leaders of Maine’s largest hospital system plead with the public to get vaccinated as hospitals and intensive care units fill with COVID-19 patients.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inLocal & State
Maine reports spike in hospitalizations to near-record levels
The 223 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Maine on Monday is close to the peak of 235 on Sept. 25.
advertisement
Posted inLocal & State
Families worry as vaccine mandate threatens to shutter group homes
Group homes for adults with severe disabilities have already struggled with staffing and some are warning that the loss of workers who refuse to be vaccinated could lead to closures or service cuts.
Posted inLocal & State
UMaine System bars 217 students from campus for failure to get vaccination or exemption
But about 99% of the students attending classes on the system’s campuses are in compliance with the COVID-19 regulations.
Posted inLocal & State
Maine reports 585 new COVID-19 cases, 7 additional deaths
On Saturday, 206 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus statewide, including 71 in critical care and 28 on ventilators.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Maine COVID cases keep rising in areas with low vaccination rates
Most counties with the highest vaccination rates, such as Cumberland County, are experiencing far lower infection rates.
Posted inLocal & State, Nation & World
Vaccine mandate could displace group home residents with disabilities, operator says
Meanwhile, the state reported 551 new cases of COVID-19 and 5 more deaths.
Posted inLocal & State, News
COVID-19 infections rise again in Maine with 799 new cases
The one-day spike is higher than recent trends, with Maine’s seven-day average at 400 daily cases.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Maine sees jump in vaccinations among health care workers as deadline nears
Meanwhile, signs are mixed about whether Maine’s COVID-19 surge is easing.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Central Maine Healthcare curtailing services, asking for flexibility as employee vaccine mandate looms
The Lewiston-based hospital system says it will have to scale back neonatal intensive care, trauma and pediatric care because employees are refusing the vaccine, but Gov. Mills defends the mandate as necessary to protect patients and health care workers.