The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is refocusing the way it conducts COVID-19 case investigations as the surge continues to ramp up in the state.The CDC will focus its case investigation efforts on people who are considered a greater risk of contracting and spreading the disease. The CDC will conduct case investigations for people 18 and younger, 65 and older, people who are hospitalized, people identified as a minority, people who are disabled, people who are health care workers or first responders and people living or working in congregate settings, including nursing homes, jails and schools.People who are not in any of those categories will receive a call from the Maine DHHS Call Center instead of the CDC.That call center is adding 17 employees to account for the increased volume.Maine posted 427 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, a record for new cases over a 24-hour period. Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said the state is seeing a “surge on top of a surge,” as the positivity rate has risen from 3.96% to 4.72% over the last week. The seven day average of new daily COVID-19 cases rose from 168 to 291.The Maine CDC currently has 135 people conducting case investigation and contact tracing. Over 30 new case investigators and 50 new contact tracers are being trained and are expected to become active in the next month.
AUGUSTA, Maine —
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is refocusing the way it conducts COVID-19 case investigations as the surge continues to ramp up in the state.
The CDC will focus its case investigation efforts on people who are considered a greater risk of contracting and spreading the disease.
The CDC will conduct case investigations for people 18 and younger, 65 and older, people who are hospitalized, people identified as a minority, people who are disabled, people who are health care workers or first responders and people living or working in congregate settings, including nursing homes, jails and schools.
People who are not in any of those categories will receive a call from the Maine DHHS Call Center instead of the CDC.
That call center is adding 17 employees to account for the increased volume.
Maine posted 427 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, a record for new cases over a 24-hour period.
Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah said the state is seeing a “surge on top of a surge,” as the positivity rate has risen from 3.96% to 4.72% over the last week. The seven day average of new daily COVID-19 cases rose from 168 to 291.
The Maine CDC currently has 135 people conducting case investigation and contact tracing. Over 30 new case investigators and 50 new contact tracers are being trained and are expected to become active in the next month.
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