Wildly inconsistent policies and people generally masking less after getting vaccinated present challenges for public health officials.
Health
COVID-19 death rates are three times higher in Maine’s less vaccinated counties
The stark contrast reveals the effectiveness of inoculation in preventing hospitalizations and deaths.
COVID-19 hospitalizations tick up slightly in Maine
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports 338 people hospitalized for COVID-19 throughout the state.
COVID or just a cold? Common symptoms have people hunting for hard-to-find tests
Experts say anyone with a cough or a sore throat who can’t get tested should stay at home.
CDC tells even vaccinated people to avoid cruise ships
Shares of Carnival Corp., Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. tumbled on the news.
U.S. children hospitalized with COVID-19 in near-record numbers
The previous peak over the course of the pandemic was in early September, when child hospitalizations averaged 342 per day, the CDC said.
It may be time to upgrade from cloth masks to hi-tech ones, experts say
Better masks will better block transmission of the virus, especially omicron, some say.
U.S. move to shorten COVID-19 isolation stirs confusion, doubt
The decision to shorten the recommended COVID-19 isolation and quarantine period from 10 days to five is drawing criticism from some medical experts.
The CDC updated COVID-19 isolation guidelines. Here’s what you need to know
The new guidelines are an attempt to reduce the risk of transmission while minimizing the disruption to people’s daily routines.
After taking last year off, the flu is back in Maine, but off to a slow start
In Maine and nationally, the dominant strain appears to be particularly virulent, but this year’s influenza vaccine appears to be a good match for it, said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, MaineHealth’s chief health improvement officer.