Maine CDC reports 23 new cases of COVID-19, no new deaths

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Tuesday 23 more cases of COVID-19 but no new deaths.The number of Mainers with COVID-19 who have died remains at 102.The 23 new cases brings the total to 2,994.The Maine CDC reported 34 new recoveries over the past 24 hours.Slow the Spread: CLICK HERE to read the CDC guidelines on coronavirusMAINE CORONAVIRUS DATADeaths: 102Total cases: 2,994Confirmed Cases: 2,665Probable Cases: 339Cumulative Positivity Rate: 4.21%Patients recovered: 2,443Active cases: 449Currently hospitalized: 24Patients in ICU: 12Patients on ventilators: 6Get the latest coronavirus information from the Maine CDCWHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?Symptoms of coronavirus may include fever, cough difficulty breathing and sore throat. Symptoms generally appear two to 14 days after exposure.Other symptoms include chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste and/or smell.Health officials said most patients experience mild symptoms and can recover at home.However, some patients, particularly those with underlying medical conditions, may experience more severe respiratory illness.Coronavirus appears to spread in similar ways to the flu and the common cold, which includes through the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact such as touching and shaking hands and touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.Anyone experiencing symptoms is urged to call their health care provider and not just show up in person.EXPANDED TESTINGThe Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has eliminated the tiered criteria for testing after acquiring new equipment in a partnership with Idexx. The Maine CDC can now process 1,000 tests per day, more than tripling its capacity.Under the expanded testing, the Maine CDC lab will test any person who has one or more symptoms of COVID-19. Testing must be ordered by a health care provider.The Maine CDC lab will also test people with no symptoms who may be at risk of spreading the virus. That includes asymptomatic close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases in an outbreak setting; asymptomatic health care workers, including first responders, who have had contact with or exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case; or asymptomatic persons tested as part of a sentinel COVID-19 disease surveillance program established by Maine CDC.COVID-19 RESOURCESMaine Helps: The Maine Helps website offers ways Mainers can directly help nonprofits, health care and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.FrontLine WarmLine: Maine Department of Health and Human Services phone line to help Mainers who are working on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak. The phone line will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day by calling 207-221-8196 or 866-367-4440. The service will eventually include a text option, officials said.211 Maine: The state’s 211 system can answer general questions about coronavirus from callers. Mainers can also text 898-211 to have their questions answered.NAMI Maine Resources: NAMI Maine is offering several programs to help people with mental health concerns due to the COVID-19 crisis.