Health officials call on Americans to get vaccinated, get their booster shots, wear masks indoors and get tested before traveling and before holiday gatherings.
Health
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maine reach another record, ‘overwhelming our system’
Roughly two-thirds of the COVID patients in hospitals across the state are unvaccinated, and the percentage is as high as 85 to 90 among those in critical care.
Maine EMS panel halts transfer of neurological trauma patients to CMMC from other hospitals
The Trauma Advisory Committee is waiting for patient data from the Lewiston medical center.
Data indicate omicron is milder, but better at evading vaccines
An analysis from South Africa suggests the Pfizer vaccine offers less protection against infection by the variant, but is still a good defense against hospitalization.
Number of ICU patients climbs to new record as state reports 1,383 more infections
The National Guard and federal health care workers have been deployed to help Maine’s strained hospitals.
National Guard members deployed as COVID surge keeps pressure on Maine hospitals
Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston asks for help as a federal surge response team gets to work assisting the staff at Maine Medical Center in Portland.
Delivery of free at-home COVID-19 tests possible in Maine if federal program expands
New Hampshire delivered 800,000 tests to people’s homes in 24 hours as part of a federal pilot program that has quickly run out of funding.
Federal ‘surge team’ coming to help Maine Medical Center with flood of COVID-19 patients
Pressure on Maine hospitals continued to rise Thursday as Maine reported a record number of new infections and intensive care patients.
Pfizer says booster of its COVID-19 vaccine offers protection against omicron
Pfizer and its partner BioNTech said that while 2 doses may not be strong enough to prevent infection, lab tests showed a booster increased by 25-fold people’s levels of antibodies capable of fighting off omicron.
Central Maine rescue officials say staffing crisis leading to faltering coverage
Across the region, EMS services are finding they don’t have enough staff to answer a growing number of calls.