Covid Task Force update, May 6th 2022
An update from the Yarmouth Community Coronavirus Task Force.
Covid is back
On Wednesday the Press Herald reported that the Covid rates in Maine are the highest in the country, with an estimated 1 in 25 currently infected, and case rates triple the US average.
"Maine has nation’s highest COVID infection rate as state reports another 1,030 cases"
…on Thursday the Press Herald reported that hospitalisation rates are increasing again.
"Maine hospitals report spike in patients with COVID-19 - the number of patients statewide jumped from 169 to 193 on Thursday, the highest number since late February.”
https://www.pressherald.com/2022/05/05/maine-hospitals-report-spike-in-patients-with-covid-19/
…and today (Friday) the report from the Press Herald is that indoor mask-wearing is once again recommended for much of Maine, as COVID hospitalizations rise.
From the story:
"Masks are once again recommended when indoors in eight of 16 counties as hospitalizations climb and Maine records the highest infection rate in the nation. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control updated its county-level risk assessments late Thursday and designated Cumberland County, the midcoast region and most of northern Maine as being at high risk of COVID spread and potential for strain on area hospitals. In counties designated as high risk, the federal agency recommends that everyone wear masks when indoors in public spaces. The counties designated as high-risk are Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis and Aroostook."
We know that hospitalizations are rising, emergency rooms are again very busy, and ICUs have many more COVID patients.
The death rates are not rising right now and we hope this is due to relatively high vaccination rates, immunity among persons previously exposed and those boosted. However, we do need to recognize that deaths generally lag by 3 weeks so we will have to wait and see.
Wastewater testing results are also showing increases: The latest wastewater testing has shown the virus increasing in the Portland region, York, County, Augusta and Bangor. Recent tests have shown declining or stable levels of the virus in Brunswick and Lewiston. Aroostook County is considered to be most at risk of straining hospital capacity based in part on the rate of infections there, according to federal data. More about Yarmouth’s wastewater testing later in this email.
Unfortunately, pooled testing in schools is coming to an end due to lack of funding, which will remove one of our better sources of surveillance data.
How does this affect Yarmouth?
Mike Robitaille, chief of Yarmouth Fire and Rescue, related a call he was on with the Maine Physicians Advisory Board.
They are seeing an uptick in Covid hospitalizations and anticipate that Maine hospitals will be maxed out soon.
Midcoast Hospital is now on Covid Outbreak status and is diverting patients.
Yarmouth Fire Rescue has experienced an increase in Covid Positive patients over the last 30 days and is informed daily from the State of Maine EMS Office that employees are exposed to patients testing positive for Covid.
10 town employees are currently out with Covid, many are asymptomatic.
He recommends testing, testing, testing!
What can you do?
- Get boosted if you have not already.
- Get tested if you have symptoms. Keep home tests ready in case. (They are available for free, find out more here.)
- If you test positive, stay home. Test before you come out of isolation, and wear a mask after you come out of isolation.
- Make a plan for treatment - see the section below or look at the Treatment page on this website.
- Wear a mask to protect yourself and others.
Treatment if you test positive for Covid
Covid is back, but treatments are now available! Please make sure to have a plan in place to access medicine that can be used to treat COVID. This is especially important if you are older or your health is considered "high-risk.” Please see the attached flyer with more details about what "high-risk" means.
Medicines, such as a pill called Paxlovid, are now widely available at pharmacies, but you do need a prescription.
Now’s the time to do the leg-work so you have everything in place if you get sick:
1. Have home tests on hand so you can test yourself early.
2. Touch base with your doctor so they know you want to get treatment if you get sick.
3 Identify a pharmacy that carries the drug. The sooner you get the drug, the more effective it is. You must take it in the first few days you are sick.
For more info about treatment options and to find treatment sites, go to https://www.maine.gov/covid19/treatment
The state Community Vaccination Line is available to answer your Covid treatment questions. Call this number:
1-888-445-4111
Enjoy these Spring days AND make a plan for if you need treatment!
Wastewater testing in Yarmouth
The transition from our testing program with St. Joseph's College to the US CDC program has been challenging. The program began on February 10th, but the new laboratory (LuminUltra) did not send results in a timely, consistent fashion, which made it difficult to report results to the Yarmouth community. There were also lab quality control issues during late February and early March, which required retesting of some samples.
There was then a switch to a new lab called Biobot, which is doing the testing for all 16 Maine communities participating in the Maine CDC wastewater testing program. This required a new set of paperwork and testing kits. We expect that this week the wastewater samples will start being collected and sent off for testing once again. We should soon start receiving testing reports twice a week for Yarmouth, and the reports should be available within 4–5 days of sample collection.
Once we have these reports, we can start communicating them to the community once again!
You can see Biobot testing reports on the Maine CDC COVID website.
Testing New Mainers
Every Wednesday, Dale Shields, representatives from MANA (Maine Association for New Americans), and interpreters go to the Best Western hotel in Yarmouth to do Covid testing for the new Mainers staying there. As part of the process they are doing outreach and education on Covid, to build relationships in this community, in case there is an outbreak. Each week they meet with 20 or so people and test a handful of them.
Maine Public Health Association Award
We are delighted to announce that the Yarmouth Community Coronavirus Task Force won the 2022 Public Health Program of Excellence Award, awarded by the MPHA (Maine Public Health Association). More info here.
There will be a formal presentation on May 24th from 4:30 to 6 pm, where Sharon McDonnell, Carla Hunt and Dale Shields will accept the award on behalf of the group.
We would like to send out heartfelt thanks to our many volunteers who have been there for us all throughout the pandemic, and who share this award.
How can we help?
Please contact us if you have comments, feedback, suggestions or questions - info@bewellyarmouth.org.
- Struggling to find treatment?
- Need to find a home Covid test?
- Want someone to come and talk to your organisation about Covid and protecting themselves?
- Looking for help with finding Covid tests, vaccinations, treatment?
- Need support while ill with Covid?
Please contact us - info@bewellyarmouth.org.
Check out our website and FB page - there is a lot of useful information there.