A record number of people were hospitalized with COVID-19 Monday in Maine. It's the third time in a week that hospitalizations have broken previous records. The state's positivity rate has also hit an all-time high of 8.2. Over the summer, it had dipped below one percent.
261 people were hospitalized as of Monday. That's nearly 100 more than a month ago. The state CDC says most patients hospitals continue to see — between 60 to 70% — are unvaccinated.
A spokesperson for MaineHealth says unvaccinated patients are more sick, and currently are the only patients in its system who need help breathing with a ventilator.
At Northern Light Health, a spokesperson says the increase in COVID patients puts strain on the health system. Northern Light officials are asking the community to get vaccinated, wear masks, practice distancing, and to reconsider large indoor gatherings, especially if attendees are unmasked and unvaccinated.
