• Read more about Increasing Access to COVID-19 Therapies for Non-Hospitalized Patients

COVID-19 transmission continues to occur in Maine. In recent weeks, new cases have dropped under 1,000 cases/day and, in recent days, under 500 cases/day. This is a sharp drop from the recent surge of Omicron-variant infections in Maine in January and February, yet it does not mean we are in the clear. Over 30 COVID-19 deaths were reported to Maine CDC in the first half of March. The daily census of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, over 400 through much of January, just recently dipped below 100.

• Read more about Increase of Legionnaires' Disease Cases in York County

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an increase in cases of Legionnaires' disease, a potentially fatal pneumonia, in persons who live in, work in, or visit York County. Providers should consider the possibility of Legionnaires disease in patients presenting with respiratory illness, particularly if the patient reports spending time in York County in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms.

• Read more about Expanded Eligibility for COVID-19 Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for Patients with Moderate/Severe Immunocompromise

This health alert provides updates on patient eligibility for EVUSHELD, a long-acting monoclonal antibody that is available under U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization for pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent COVID-19 infection in persons with moderate to severe immunocompromise. Additional groups of people in Maine are now eligible to get pre-exposure prophylaxis.

• Read more about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Guidance and Recommendations

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) in a backyard bird flock in Knox County. This is the first time Maine has detected HPAI in the State. Though HPAI can cause illness in humans, no human cases with this specific viral strain have been detected in the United States to date.

• Read more about Accessing COVID-19 Treatments for Non-hospitalized Patients

This health alert provides important updates regarding COVID-19 therapeutics for non-hospitalized patients, including new information on which patients to prioritize for some or all of these medications. It also includes information on locations in the State where patients can get tested, evaluated, and treated with these medications. The approach outlined in this health advisory is subject to change.

• Read more about COVID-19 Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for Patients with Moderate/Severe Immunocompromise

This health alert provides an update on patient eligibility for EVUSHELD, a long-acting monoclonal antibody that is available under U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization for pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent COVID-19 infection in persons with moderate to severe immunocompromise.

• Read more about COVID-19 Reporting Requirements

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) relies on health care providers and laboratorians to report the occurrence of notifiable diseases. Without such surveillance data, Maine cannot accurately monitor trends, detect and respond to unusual occurrences of diseases (such as outbreaks), and evaluate the effectiveness of control and prevention activities.

• Read more about Expanded U.S. FDA Approval of Remdesivir for COVID-19 Treatment

On January 21, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury) to treat non-hospitalized patients 12 years of age and older with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease who are at high risk of hospitalization. This expanded approval provides another treatment option to reduce the risk of hospitalization in high-risk patients. The use of remdesivir was previously limited to patients requiring hospitalization, and treatment outside the hospital was off-label.

• Read more about Update to Standing Order for COVID-19 Testing

On January 14, 2022, Maine CDC issued a revised Standing Order ("Order"), effective date January 21, 2022, that authorizes health care providers or other trained personnel at a health care facility or medically supervised COVID-19 collection site (collection site) in the state to collect and submit specimens of SARS-CoV-2 for molecular or antigen-based testing.

• Read more about COVID-19 Surveillance Definition Changes

As of January 2, 2022, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is using updated definitions for COVID-19 outbreaks and COVID-19-associated deaths.