Local Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource Center

Since the first testing for COVID-19 in Maine, information and important notices from community and state officials, business owners and educators have flowed to our inboxes at a rapid pace.

So, the Pilot established a resource page, a collection center for all the alerts and vital information our readers need to know.

Innovative solutions, before long, were brought to our attention, easing life for everyone as we moved through the unfamiliar sequestering days.

As Mainers line up to receive their vaccine doses and continue to figure out normalcy, we are sharing information about pandemic recovery as it rolls in.

The latest information will appear at the top of the page, and the top of the subsections appearing within the sidebar.

Stay healthy, keep your distance, wear a mask (or two), and keep your chin up!

Maine DOL provides unemployment claims update

AUGUSTA — For the week ending August 7, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 800 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 100 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).

These numbers represent claim applications; claims are then reviewed for eligibility and legitimacy. In total, approximately 1,000 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim.

Overall unemployment continued claims continue to… Read more

Aug. 12 update: Midcoast adds 29 new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Maine CDC conducts case investigations and contact tracing Monday through Friday. As a result, COVID-19 case data will be updated by 9:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Case data will not be updated Sunday and Monday or on holidays.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,240 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of… Read more

Investigators believe COVID-19 cases at Belfast hospital acquired via community transmission, no shared links

BELFAST — Waldo County General Hospital believes the cases of COVID-19 at the medical facility share no links, and were acquired via the community. Furthermore, some of the staff who tested positive were already vaccinated, adding them to the stated’s list of breakthrough cases.

“Our internal detailed contact tracing to date indicates that the employee cases we have identified since July 26 do not share a common link,” said WCGH, in an Aug. 11 news release. “In most, if not all, of… Read more

Aug. 11 update: Midcoast adds 40 new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,232 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of 10… Read more

Maine CDC investigates Waldo County General Hospital COVID-19 outbreak

BELFAST — Five cases of COVID-19 at Waldo County General Hospital have resulted in an outbreak investigation by Maine Centers for Disease Control. It is the only current COVID-19 outbreak investigation in Knox, Lincoln, and Waldo counties as of Aug. 10.

Earlier this month, the nonprofit MaineHealth, which owns WCGH, said that it will require that it will require COVID-19… Read more

Aug. 10 update: Midcoast adds 49 new COVID-19 cases since Saturday

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,222 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of 10… Read more

Maine awards $25 million in COVID relief support to hospitals, long-term care facilities

AUGUSTA — The Mills Administration announced Monday it is awarding $25 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to 14 hospitals and 96 long-term care facilities to help health care organizations recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

The awards, which are being allocated by the Maine Departments of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and Health and Human Services (DHHS), use remaining funds from the Maine Health Care Financial Relief… Read more

Maine Achieves Another Vaccination Milestone

80 percent of Mainers age 18 and older have received COVID-19 vaccine

AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills announced Monday that 80 percent of adults in Maine have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, achieving another milestone for the state as it continues to confront an increase in cases associated with the Delta variant.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), 80.2 percent of adults (18+) in Maine have received a COVID-19 vaccination, one of six states in the nation to reach the milestone.

Maine… Read more

Aug. 7 update: Midcoast adds 27 new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,212 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of two… Read more

Aug. 6 update: Midcoast records 36 new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,210 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of six… Read more

City of Belfast requires mask wearing inside municipal buildings

According to the U.S. CDC, Waldo County has “high” levels of community transmission at this time, which means that individuals should wear face coverings in indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status.

What does this mean for the City of Belfast?

All employees and visitors to all indoor City of Belfast facilities are required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status, the city said, Aug. 5.… Read more

800 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance last week

AUGUSTA — For the week ending July 31, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 800 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 100 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). These numbers represent claim applications; claims are then reviewed for eligibility and legitimacy.

In total, approximately 1,000 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim.

Overall unemployment continued claims continue to… Read more

Aug. 5 update: Midcoast adds 23 new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,204 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of one… Read more

Lincolnville couple isolate with breakthrough COVID, urge people to mask up

Christine and John Burstein are miserably sick this week, each with separate symptoms. Christine started with a massive head cold, and developed a deep, raspy cough. John’s stomach has been churning and he has been sleeping a lot. Both tested positive for COVID-19, despite being vaccinated in the late winter and early spring, and are suffering from what has become familiar part of every day conversations — the breakthrough cases.… Read more

Aug. 4 update: Midcoast adds 19 new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,203 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of one… Read more

Aug. 3 update: Midcoast adds 48 new COVID-19 cases since Saturday

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,202 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of… Read more

Gov. Mills: Preventing addiction, persevering through opioid epidemic, and achieving our full promise

The following is a transcript of a radio address presented by Governor Janet Mills:

The US CDC recently reported that more than 93,000 people died from drug overdoses nationwide last year, a staggering record reflecting the coronavirus pandemic’s toll on efforts to quell the opioid crisis and the continued spread of illegal fentanyl in the narcotic supply.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening.

Here in Maine, the Attorney General’s… Read more

UPDATED July 31 update: Midcoast adds nine new COVID-19 cases, one new death

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,195 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of two… Read more

July 30 update: Midcoast adds 17 new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,193 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of two… Read more

900 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance last week

AUGUSTA — For the week ending July 24, the Maine Department of Labor recorded about 900 initial claims filed for state unemployment insurance, and 100 initial claims filed for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). These numbers represent claim applications; claims are then reviewed for eligibility and legitimacy.

In total, approximately 1,200 people were filing an initial claim or reopening their unemployment claim.

Overall unemployment continued claims were down… Read more

July 29 update: Midcoast adds eight new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,191 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of two… Read more

Effective July 30, Respiratory Health Center becomes part of WCGH Walk-In Care

WCGH to merge COVID testing unit into Walk-In Care

BELFAST — COVID-19 drive-thru testing at Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH) will be largely unaffected when the hospital folds the department that has performed the tests since the beginning of the pandemic into its walk-in care practice.

Effective on Friday, July 30, the Respiratory Health Center (RHC) will become part of WCGH Walk-In Care, located on the WCGH campus in the Biscone Building, at 119 Northport Ave., Belfast.

Because RHC and Walk-In Care share a common… Read more

Maine’s new COVID-19 mask guidance; Waldo County recommended to mask up indoors

AUGUSTA — Nearly a month since his last COVID-19 briefing, Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah held a special briefing Wednesday afternoon, July 28, remotely from Augusta alongside Maine Department of Health and Human Services Director Jeanne Lambrew to update Mainers on how the state is confronting a recent rise of COVID-19 cases, largely a result of the Delta variant and discuss the newest recommendations from the U.S. CDC.

Shah noted that he, Commissioner Lambrew and Governor Janet… Read more

these changes are recommendations, not requirements

Mills announces Maine will follow updated U.S. CDC recommendations for masks indoors

AUGUSTA — The Mills Administration announced Wednesday the State of Maine will follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (U.S. CDC) updated face covering guidance, which recommends that all people, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings in indoor, public settings in areas with “substantial” or “high” levels of community transmission; and all teachers, staff, and students in K-12 schools wear face coverings, regardless of vaccination status or community… Read more

July 28 update: Midcoast adds nine new COVID-19 cases

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,189 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of… Read more

Gov. Mills directs DHHS, Maine CDC to review U.S. CDC’s updated face covering guidance

AUGUSTA — Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement Tuesday after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) issued updated COVID-19 public health recommendations on when to wear face coverings:

“I have directed the Department of Health and Human Services and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to review the U.S. CDC’s updated face covering guidance,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I expect that review to be completed tomorrow, at which… Read more

July 27 update: Midcoast adds 21 new COVID-19 cases since Saturday

AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 1,186 cases, 36 hospitalizations and seven deaths. This data includes an increase of… Read more

Gov. Mills: The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan is likely the most transformational legislation of our lifetimes

The following is a transcript of a radio address presented by Governor Janet Mills:

The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan — which is modeled on the advice of experts and is backed by a wide coalition of organizations and supported by funding from the American Rescue Plan – is likely the most transformational legislation of our lifetimes and on July 19th, I was proud to sign it into law.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

In May I… Read more