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Information for
Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
Maine CDC will continue to regularly update this page. For additional resources and up-to-date information, please visit the U.S. CDC's COVID-19 website.
The Maine CDC is preparing for the potential spread in Maine of the respiratory illness called COVID-19, caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. We urge Maine people to practice good hand hygiene, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home if you are sick. If you are concerned that you have been exposed to COVID-19, call your health care provider, who will determine whether you should be tested and, as appropriate, submit a sample for testing.
Situation in Maine
The table below is updated once each day Monday through Friday by 12 PM EDT.
| Maine COVID-19 Testing Data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Updated: March 17, 2020 at 12:00 PM | ||||
| Total Confirmed Cases1 | Total Presumptive Positive Cases2 | Persons With Negative Tests3 | ||
| 23 | 9 | 1,303 | ||
1Confirmed Cases: This now includes cases formerly identified as presumptive positive. This classification applies to samples sent by a health provider directly to HETL that test positive and to samples from non-governmental labs for which HETL validates positive results.
2Presumptive Positive Cases: These are samples that test positive at non-governmental labs and are sent to HETL for validation.
3Negative Tests: This number represents negative tests from state, reference, or commerical laboratories, or at US CDC.
| Maine COVID-19 Case Tracker | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Updated: March 17, 2020 at 6:00 PM | ||||||
| Sex | Age | County of Residence | Classification | |||
| 1 | F | 50s | Androscoggin | Confirmed | ||
| 2 | M | 50s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 3 | F | 40s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 4 | M | 60s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 5 | F | 20s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 6 | M | 20s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 7 | M | 80s | Cumberland | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 8 | F | 70s | Cumberland | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 9 | M | 70s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 10 | F | 30s | Lincoln | Confirmed | ||
| 11 | M | 40s | Cumberland | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 12 | M | <20 | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 13 | F | 60s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 14 | F | 80s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 15 | M | 30s | Knox | Confirmed | ||
| 16 | M | 70s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 17 | M | 40s | Lincoln | Confirmed | ||
| 18 | F | 50s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 19 | F | 50s | Oxford | Confirmed | ||
| 20 | M | 50s | York | Confirmed | ||
| 21 | M | <20 | Androscoggin | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 22 | F | 60s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 23 | F | 50s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 24 | F | 50s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 25 | F | 60s | Cumberland | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 26 | F | 30s | Out of State | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 27 | F | 40s | Cumberland | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 28 | M | 60s | Out of State | Confirmed | ||
| 29 | F | 60s | Cumberland | Confirmed | ||
| 30 | M | 40s | Confirmed | |||
| 31 | F | 30s | Kennebec | Presumptive Positive | ||
| 32 | F | 50s | Androscoggin | Presumptive Positive | ||
News Releases
- Maine DHHS Acts to Ensure Access to Health Care, Food, and Basic Necessities While Protecting the Health of the Public and Employees
- Maine CDC Announces More COVID-19 Results
- Maine CDC Reports Additional COVID-19 Results
- Preliminary Testing Indicates Two New Presumptive Positive COVID-19 Cases in Maine
- Governor Mills, Maine CDC Announce First Presumptive Positive Case and Additional Steps to Respond to COVID-19
- 211 now available to answer general questions about COVID-19
- Maine CDC Lab Testing for COVID-19
- Maine to Begin Testing for COVID-19 at State Lab
- Maine continues to prepare for coronavirus
Travel
| Travel Advisories | |
|---|---|
| Updated: March 17, 2020 at 12:00 PM | |
| Europe | Level 3: avoid all nonessential travel |
| China | Level 3: avoid all nonessential travel |
| South Korea | Level 3: avoid all nonessential travel |
| Iran | Level 3: avoid all nonessential travel |
| Global | Level 2: older adults or those who have chronic medical conditions consider postponing travel |
| U.S. CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel U.S. State Department: Travel Advisories |
|
Stay home for 14 days from the time you left an area with widespread, ongoing community spread (Level 3 countries) and practice social distancing. If you recently traveled to a country with a COVID-19 outbreak and feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing within 14 days after you left, visit the U.S. CDC's travel information page for guidance.
Healthcare Providers: U.S. CDC updated the definition of persons under investigation (PUI) on 3/4/2020. See further resources below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Full List of Frequently Asked Questions
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a novel (new) coronavirus which was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and has now been detected in other countries, including the United States.
For some, the respiratory virus causes mild symptoms like the common cold or influenza (flu), for others it can cause severe pneumonia that requires medical care or hospitalization.
The virus is named "SARS-CoV-2" and the disease it causes is named "coronavirus disease 2019" (abbreviated "COVID-19").
What are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Sore throat (in some patients)
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
Most patients experience mild symptoms and can recuperate at home, but others, particularly those with underlying medical conditions, may experience more severe respiratory illness.
How does it spread?
The virus appears to spread in similar ways to influenza (flu) and the common cold. This may include spreading through:
- The air by coughing and sneezing
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes
The virus can spread from person-to-person and in some locations there is apparent community spread, meaning some people are infected and are not sure how or where they became infected.
How can I help to prevent the spread?
There are simple steps you can take to reduce the possible spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses such as influenza and the common cold:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Stay home while you're sick and avoid close contact with others
Currently there is no vaccine available to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
What should I do if I have symptoms?
Call ahead to a health care professional if you develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing. Tell your health care professional about any recent travel or contact with other COVID-19 cases. Your healthcare professional will work with Maine CDC to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19. More information is available on the U.S. CDC's What You Should Know page.
What is the situation in the U.S.?
For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.
- People in communities where ongoing community spread with the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated though still relatively low risk of exposure.
- Health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.
- Close contacts of persons with COVID-19 also are at elevated risk of exposure.
- Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring also are at elevated risk of exposure.
U.S. CDC has developed guidance to help in the risk assessment and management of people with potential exposures to COVID-19 and provided an updated Check And Report Everyday booklet for China travelers.
Additional Coronavirus Resources for the Public
Interim Guidance for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare providers should obtain a detailed travel history for patients with fever and acute respiratory illness. Healthcare providers in Maine should immediately notify Maine CDC (1-800 821-5821). On February 28, U.S. CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN): Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of COVID-19.
Limited information is available to characterize the spectrum of clinical illness associated with COVID-2019. No vaccine or specific treatment for COVID-19 infection is available; care is supportive.
For more information, visit U.S. CDC's webpage on evaluating and reporting a PUI and U.S. CDC's webpage on infection control.
Additional Coronavirus Resources for Providers
More Information
- For travelers
- For schools
- For higher ed institutions (including foreign exchange programs)
- For pregnant women and children
- For older adults
- For businesses
- For law enforcement
- For communities
- For public health communicators
- For faith-based organizations
- For homeless shelters
- COVID-19 - GuidanceList - 03/04/2020 (PDF)
Guidance for Healthcare Providers
Maine Specific Resources
- COVID-19 Testing for People Who Are Uninsured (PDF)
- Maine Department of Education Coronavirus Updates
- Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Full List of Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
If you are a Maine health care professional and have questions about COVID-19, call: 1-800-821-5821
If you are a Maine school professional and have questions about COVID-19, call (207) 624-6694 or email DOESchoolandStudentSupports@maine.gov.
