Health

Health and health care news

Family Of 82-Year-Old Who Died Of COVID-19 Alleges Negligence At Millinocket Wedding Venue

By • Nov 19, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The family of a former resident of the Maplecrest Rehabilitation Facility in Madison, who died after contracting COVID-19, has filed a civil claim alleging negligence on the part of the Big Moose Inn, which hosted a wedding reception that public health officials believe led to the spread of hundreds of cases of the virus and several deaths.

52 Rapid COVID-19 Testing Sites To Open In Maine Walgreens

By • Nov 19, 2020
John Minchillo / Associated Press

Starting on Friday, 52 new rapid COVID-19 testing sites will open at Walgreens pharmacies across the state, and another three will come online next week.

UMaine System Pauses Retiree Health Insurance Change After Employees Sue

By • Nov 19, 2020

Retired University of Maine system employees filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday over the system’s proposed changes to health benefits, and in response the system announced that it will “pause” to speak with representatives and address their concerns.

Maine CDC Revises Standard For Investigating COVID-19 Cases

By • Nov 19, 2020
Nick Woodward / Maine Public file

The Maine Center for Disease Control will now investigate probable cases of COVID-19 only after a person receives a positive test result. The change is aimed at ensuring that state resources are directed at the new coronavirus as the state enters cold and flu season.

Mills Orders Earlier Closing Time For Some Businesses As Maine Adds 1 Death, 215 COVID-19 Cases

By • Nov 19, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

Gov. Janet Mills is limiting the hours for certain businesses in response to the surge of COVID-19 cases in Maine.

Janet Mills Urges Mainers To Hunker Down For Thanksgiving Amid Spike In COVID-19 Hospitalizations

By • Nov 18, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

State public health officials reported a record number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 on Wednesday. In light of the state’s troubling trend with the coronavirus, Gov. Janet Mills is urging Mainers to embrace safety precautions and avoid unnecessary trips, and she says that the coming weeks will present a critical test for the state.

With COVID-19 Cases On The Rise And Holidays Approaching, Maine Schools Weigh Extra Precautions

By • Nov 17, 2020
Mary Altaffer / Associated Press

Daily COVID-19 cases set another record in Maine on Tuesday, but a bright spot, according to state public health officials, is that public schools have not been a major source of transmission. Yet with the virus continuing to spread, and holiday travel on the horizon, some school officials are considering additional precautions.

American Lung Association: Maine Leads New England In Smoking Rate Thanks To Stagnant Tobacco Tax

By • Nov 17, 2020
Pat Wellenbach / Associated Press file

Maine continues to lag the country in curbing the rate of new lung cancer diagnoses.

Record-High 246 COVID-19 Cases In Maine, 1 Death

By • Nov 17, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

It’s another record-breaking day in Maine for new cases of COVID-19 — the state CDC is reporting 246 Tuesday. The previous high was 243 last Friday.

Calais Church Takes Radical Approach After COVID-19 Outbreak: Full Transparency

By • Nov 16, 2020
Seth Wenig / Associated Press

The Maine CDC on Monday announced an outbreak of COVID-19 at another church — the Tabernacle of the Congregation in Sweden — the most recent in a handful of investigations involving houses of worship. Churches at the center of outbreaks tend to shy away from the public scrutiny they face in these instances. Some are defiant, but at least one Maine church has decided to take very open approach to the outbreak in its midst.

At Board Meeting, UMaine System Employees Air Concerns About Changes To Retiree Health Insurance

By • Nov 16, 2020
umaine.edu

Former and current Maine university employees are urging the system to reverse what they say are costly changes to retiree health insurance.

'The Pot Is Starting To Boil' — Maine CDC Opens Over A Dozen Outbreak Investigations

By • Nov 16, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and the positivity rate all continue to climb in Maine.

Maine CDC: 2 Deaths, 153 COVID-19 Cases On Sunday

By • Nov 15, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The Maine CDC has added two deaths related to COVID-19 to the state's total.

Maine CDC: 1 Death, 152 Additional COVID-19 Cases Saturday

By • Nov 14, 2020
Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press

The Maine CDC has added another COVID-19 death to the state's total. One-hundred sixty-three Mainers have now died with the disease.

5 Maine Counties Now 'Yellow' Under Color-Coded COVID-19 Risk System

By • Nov 13, 2020

Androscoggin County is the latest area of Maine to be classified as “yellow” under the state’s COVID-19 risk assessment for schools as cases continue to surge across the state.

Pages