Wastewater samples and the variety of folks hospitalized with COVID-19 recommend Maine could also be in for one more winter surge of the virus.
Wastewater from Piscataquis, Cumberland and Kennebec counties examined this month present the best concentrations of COVID-19 since January, in line with Biobot, which checks and analyzes wastewater for public well being functions.
Penobscot and Hancock County’s wastewater, in the meantime, has the best ranges of COVID-19 this month since October and December 2022, respectively, Biobot reported.
Wastewater testing is taken into account probably the most correct markers of how prevalent COVID-19 is within the state as a result of it accounts for individuals who check optimistic and get better at house.
The spike in COVID-19 instances is going on in tandem with a wave of different seasonal sicknesses together with Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, and influenza. That is resulting in a surge in hospitalizations that taxes medical amenities which have traditionally struggled to seek out beds for everybody who wants care.
Whereas instances and hospitalizations aren’t but as excessive as they have been this time final 12 months, Dr. James Jarvis, senior doctor government for Northern Mild Well being’s COVID-19 response, mentioned he stays involved concerning the uptick, because it mimics what medical doctors noticed final 12 months.
Northern Mild Jap Maine Medical Middle in Bangor is at or close to capability practically day-after-day, Jarvis mentioned.
Statewide, 93 Mainers have been hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday — probably the most since April 2023. Of these, 14 have been in crucial care and 4 are on a ventilator, in line with the Maine Middle for Illness Management and Prevention.
COVID-19 instances in Maine are possible rising on account of a number of components, resembling folks not receiving the newest vaccine booster that guards towards the JN.1 variant that’s gaining dominance.
The JN.1 variant seems to be extra infectious than variants that circulated through the summer time, however causes much less extreme sickness, Jarvis mentioned.
“We have to see extra folks getting vaccinated, notably people who find themselves over the age of 65
and who’ve underlying medical situations that predispose them to getting extra extreme illness,” Jarvis mentioned.
It’s widespread for Maine to see a wave of COVID-19 instances after different elements of the nation see rising an infection ranges and unfold the sickness to the northeast, Jarvis mentioned. This occurs when folks journey for the vacation season and when school college students go to house throughout winter break.
“That is one thing we see yearly with influenza, however now now we have COVID-19 — yet one more respiratory virus we have to fear about,” Jarvis mentioned.
Although medical doctors aren’t but sure whether or not COVID-19 instances will rise each winter, as RSV and flu instances sometimes do, Jarvis mentioned they’ve seen instances in Maine rise over the past two winters and fall in the summertime.
Jarvis recommends all Mainers obtain the most recent COVID-19 vaccine and new RSV vaccine to scale back the chance of contracting the sicknesses, in addition to put on a masks in crowded indoor settings or keep away from them altogether.
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