Local Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource Center

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 31, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 30, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is investigating an outbreak of COVID-19 among individuals affiliated with the Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford.

At present, there are at least five confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving people affiliated with the church.

An epidemiological investigation is underway, including determining the extent of links to other outbreaks in York and Penobscot counties.

Maine CDC is notifying close contacts…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 29, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

ROCKPORT — Five Town CSD and School Administrative District 28 Superintendent Maria Libby is asking two school boards for permission to delay the start of school until Sept. 14.

“After a long discussion on Thursday, August 27, with building administrators and directors, our team concluded that we need another week to put the necessary pieces in place for a successful school opening,” she wrote, in a letter to both boards (see below for the full letter). “As you know, our staff has…

AUGUSTA — After much anticipation, the MPA Interscholastic Management Committee, a committee including superintendents and principals from around the state, voted unanimously Thursday, Aug. 27 in favor of the fall sports season to move forward. 

Fall sports in the Midcoast include cross country, golf, football, field hockey and soccer. Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport also sponsors a mountain biking team. 

MIDCOAST — With less than three months until the 2020 General Election, officials from both the Democratic and Republican parties are ramping up efforts to register new voters across the nation, including in the Midcoast ahead of a pair of heavily contested races including the U.S. Presidential race and Maine’s U.S. Senate race.  

Those voter registration efforts, however, have been drastically altered amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as the pandemic created a significant plunge in…

AUGUSTA — The Mills Administration released Friday an updated color coded Health Advisory System that classifies counties’ relative risk of COVID-19 transmission by color for schools as they continue with their plans to deliver instruction and support students safely this fall. 
 
The updated assessment released today showed that all counties remain green, although Penobscot and York counties will be reassessed next Friday, September 4, to determine if they meet the threshold for…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 28, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ninety-three skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes in Maine have been awarded a total of $10,421,700 to support increased testing, staffing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) needs, a news release stated.

The funding announced Thursday is a targeted distribution from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund, which is funded through $175 billion included in the bipartisan CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and…

Belfast Poetry Festival has submitted the following statement:

It is with sadness that the steering committee of the Belfast Poetry Festival has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s festival. Scheduled to take place October 16 and 17, 2020, the necessary safety protocols for gatherings during the Covid-19 pandemic has made it impossible to put on the live event and it was decided that a virtual festival could not be achieved.

Please look for the Belfast…

AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday she has signed an Executive Order to protect the health and safety of Maine voters, poll workers, and election officials and to facilitate access to safe in-person and absentee voting in the November general election amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“The right to vote is the foundation of our democratic process, and I take seriously our responsibility to ensure that every Maine person has the opportunity to cast their ballot and to…

AUGUSTA — For the week ending August 22, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 1,100 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 1,300 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

These claims represent about 1,300 individuals filing an initial claim.

About 40,900 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment.

In addition, about 23,200 weekly certifications were filed under PUA…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 27, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

The following letter was distributed by RSU 13 to families Tuesday, Aug. 25. 

Dear Families of Our RSU 13 Community:

To start this letter, we are providing a brief overview of our current reopening plan…

The following is a transcript of a radio address presented by Governor Janet Mills.

Thanks to the efforts of Maine people, all of you who have largely abided by public health measures that we have imposed to keep us all safe, our state has been relatively successful in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in the last few months.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

I know the worst parts of this pandemic, the ones we see in other states…

ORONO — The University of Maine system is reporting that as of Aug. 26, there are seven identified cases of COVID-19, five at UMaine in Orono, including four at a fraternity house and one at an off-campus resident.

There is one reported at the University of Maine in Fort Kent, and one at the University of Maine Law School in Portland.

AUGUSTA — The sports medicine committee for the Maine Principals’ Association provided the green light for fall sports to be played this upcoming season with some modifications in place. 

Fall sports in the Midcoast include cross country, golf, football, field hockey and soccer. Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport also sponsors a mountain biking team. 

The recommendation now heads to the MPA Interscholastic Management Committee, who has final say in whether fall…

AUGUSTA — The Federal Emergency Management Agency informed the Maine Department of Labor and Maine Emergency Management Agency Tuesday night it has approved Maine’s application for Lost Wages Assistance funding, which will temporarily add $300 to the weekly unemployment benefits of eligible Mainers.

Wednesday morning, MDOL signed the formal award memo from FEMA.

MDOL will administer the Lost Wages Assistance program.

Because the program utilizes disaster relief funding…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 26, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 132.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 26, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Internal Revenue Service says it will soon send catch-up Economic Impact Payment checks to about 50,000 individuals whose portion of the EIP was diverted to pay their spouse’s past-due child support.

These catch-up payments are due to be issued in early-to-mid-September.

They will be mailed as checks to any eligible spouse who submitted Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, along with their 2019 federal income tax return, or in some cases, their 2018…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maine farmers have been awarded a total of $22,190,403 to date to help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19, according to a news release.

The funding is provided through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), created through the CARES Act, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers.

In addition to facilitating the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CFAP is providing…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 25, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) and Maine Emergency Medical Services (Maine EMS) are investigating an increase in the number of cases of COVID-19 among first responders in York County.

At present, there are at least four recent, confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving firefighters and/or EMS clinicians.

In addition, several other individuals have been placed in quarantine following exposures to first responders affected by COVID-19.

ORONO — The University of Maine System is extending planned asymptomatic COVID-19 testing through the Thanksgiving holiday end of in-person instruction, with plans to sample approximately 2,000 students, staff and faculty members at least every 10 days.

All community members who work, study or participate in campus-based activities will be subject to the random sampling to monitor and limit the spread of COVID-19, according to a news release. 

…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reported Monday the number of cases associated with an August 7 wedding and reception in Millinocket has increased to a total of 53.

Maine CDC case investigators have identified secondary and tertiary transmission of the virus, which means that it has spread to people who did not attend the wedding or reception but had close contact with individuals who were present at the event (secondary cases) and close…

The Sanford Fire Fighters Association (IAFF Local 1624) and the Professional Fire Fighters of Maine have released the statements below regarding three members of the Sanford Fire Department who have tested positive for COVID-19, which is classified as an “outbreak” by the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So far, the majority of the department have received COVID-19 test results, but ten IAFF Local 1624 members still have not received results over 72 hours after being…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 24, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor announced Monday the State Extended Benefit (EB) program, which provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits, will be available for Maine people who have exhausted their 13-weeks of federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) by the end of this week.

Individuals who have exhausted their benefits will not need to take any additional action, a news release noted.

Those being enrolled in the EB program will receive a monetary…

Medomak Valley High School Principal Linda Pease distributed the following letter Friday, Aug. 21:

Dear Students and Families,

We are looking forward to seeing students in our school! Having ended our school year 2019 - 20 in a closure, we now find ourselves opening in a hybrid model for school year 2020-21; however, we are up to the task! This hybrid opening allows for in-person and remote learning. With numerous requirements for health and safety due to the COVID-19…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 23, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 131.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 23, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

This collection of submitted photos taken by residents and visitors to the state will join Tipping toward Winter, Maine establishes new normal with a sense of grace and…

This weekend, I am writing to provide further context regarding the three positive COVID-19 cases in the University of Maine community and additional information about the comprehensive, science-based plans we have in place for surveillance and response.

Those three cases involved two off-campus students who share an apartment, and one living in a fraternity house. To our knowledge, the two cases are unrelated to the third, and none of the three involved group…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 22, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 130.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 22, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Labor announced Friday it will apply for Lost Wages Assistance funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which would temporarily add $300 to the weekly unemployment benefits of eligible unemployed Mainers if approved.

This funding was made available to states by Presidential Memorandum on August 8 after an additional $600 weekly unemployment benefit authorized by Congress expired on July 31.

The Memorandum directs FEMA to…

ROCKPORT — Camden Hills Regional High School has decided to opt out of the upcoming fall sports season and will not participate in any quote-unquote traditional games this fall. 

Teams, rather, will participate in practices and modified games this fall. 

Fall sports at Camden Hills includes mountain biking, golf, football, cross country, field hockey and soccer. 

Below is the letter from the school…

AUGUSTA – Workforce conditions continued to recover in July from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release from the Maine Deptartment of LAbor

The monthly payroll and household surveys indicate:

Nonfarm payroll jobs increased 10,100 in July

43,900 jobs have been recovered since the April low; the July total remained down 60,600 from February

The unemployment rate increased to 9.9 percent

Labor force participation increased to pre-…

AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills announced Friday her Administration will provide $25 million in federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to support Maine schools in developing and offering day programming for students to supplement in-person instruction.

The funding comes as many school districts across Maine are implementing hybrid learning models that incorporate both in-person and remote learning days this fall to protect the health of students and school staff, the release…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday it will invest nearly $1 million in existing general funds to increase preventive health care for children enrolled in MaineCare through temporary incentive payments for health providers that offer well child visits, vaccinations, and dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together with Federal matching payments, Maine will increase support for children's health by an estimated $3.6 million this fall, per…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 21, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 129.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 21, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday the formation of the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program to support Maine businesses and nonprofits as they continue to grapple with economic hardships caused by COVID-19.

The program, backed by $200 million in Federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF), will provide financial relief for businesses and non-profit organizations that incurred business disruptions…

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and MaineHealth announced Thursday the launch of five new “swab and send” COVID-19 testing sites, further expanding access to reliable and timely testing for Maine people and visitors.

The new MaineHealth sites in Damariscotta, Rockport, Brunswick, Norway, and Farmington will open next week.

MaineHealth will begin accepting appointments today.

These sites, in addition to the 22 previously announced, bring the…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has announced, Aug. 20, an additional COVID-19 death in the state, bringing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 128.

Below is a table of all the COVID-19 cases in Maine resulting in deaths. Some information has not been provided by the Maine CDC. 

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 20, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

AUGUSTA — For the week ending August 15, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 1,300 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 1,200 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

These claims represent about 1,500 individuals filing an initial claim.

About 45,500 weekly certifications, or continued claims, were filed last week for state unemployment. In addition, about 25,200 weekly certifications were filed under PUA. Weekly…

AUGUSTA — Despite recently outlining what a shortened fall sports season would look like, the Maine Principals’ Association, Maine’s governing body for high school athletics, says it has yet to make a decision on whether fall sports Maine will occur. 

“We are presented with an unprecedented situation with the COVID-19…

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

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maine farmers have been awarded a total of $19,704,833 to date to help offset the financial harm they have experienced due to COVID-19, according to a news release.

The funding is provided through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), created through the CARES Act, which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers.

In addition to facilitating the Farmers to Families Food Box program, CFAP is providing…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With millions of Americans now receiving taxable unemployment compensation, many of them for the first time, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding people receiving unemployment compensation that they can have tax withheld from their benefits now to help avoid owing taxes on this income when they file their federal income tax return next year.

By law, unemployment compensation is taxable and must be reported on a 2020 federal income tax return.

Taxable…

SEARSPORT — The Regional School Unit 20 board of directors will be hold a special board meeting Thursday, Aug. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the SDMHS cafetorium. 

The highlight of the meeting will be consideration to approve the RSU 20 steering committee’s three phases of the learning continuity plan amid COVID-19. 

AGENDA

1. Call the meeting to order

2. Consideration to approve the RSU 20 Steering Committee’s 3 Phases of the Learning Continuity Plan…

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list, Aug. 18, of COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine.

Each morning, the Maine CDC updates its COVID-19 data on its website with the latest coronavirus numbers from across the state. 

The below 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…