July 17 update: Midcoast adds five new COVID-19 cases, one new death

Sat, 07/17/2021 - 8:15am

    AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

    Maine CDC conducts case investigations and contact tracing Monday through Friday. As a result, COVID-19 case data will be updated by 9:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Case data will not be updated Sunday and Monday or on holidays.

    Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,164 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of two new cases and one new death since the last update.

    Waldo County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,068 cases, 37 hospitalizations and 21 deaths. This data includes an increase of one new case since the last update.

    Lincoln County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,093 cases, 26 hospitalizations and three deaths. This data includes an increase of one new case since the last update.

    The above data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC.

    “Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they are currently living,” the Maine CDC says. “For example, an individual who claims residency in Maine but lives in Florida will appear in this data even if they were living in Florida at the time of illness. County listings are by residence of patient, not location of the hospital or testing location.”

    There have been more than 69,400 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 across the state since the outbreak began in March 2020. A confirmed case represents when SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected using a molecular amplification test (e.g. PCR) from any approved lab.

    Across the state, 882 individuals have passed away since the start of the outbreak after testing positive for COVID-19. One of today’s announced deaths is an individual from Knox County. Since Thursday, the Maine CDC has been update the death toll with deaths that occurred as far back as May 2020 that were previously unreported. It is unclear at publishing time if this Knox County death is one of those instances. 

    The cumulative number of people hospitalized, at some point during their illness, across the state since the start of the outbreak stands at more than 2,000.

    Looking at present statewide hospital COVID-19 data, there are presently 31 hospitalized, including 16 in critical care and six on a ventilator.