Nearly all of Maine now considered at low risk for COVID-19 - Press Herald

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Nearly all of Maine is now considered low risk for COVID-19, according to a federal analysis.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s “community levels” were updated late Thursday, with 15 of Maine’s 16 counties at low risk – or “green” – based on virus transmission and hospital burden, while Hancock County was considered moderate risk. Counties that last week were “red” or high-risk – Aroostook and Washington counties – are now considered low-risk, according to the U.S. CDC.

The agency does not recommend universal indoor mask-wearing in low-risk counties, while masking is recommended for at-risk people in moderate risk counties.

The risk levels are based on a combination of case counts, hospital capacity and new hospital admissions for COVID-19. Hospitalizations increased slightly, from 89 on Thursday to 93 on Friday, but have still plummeted from a peak of 436 on Jan. 13.

Meanwhile, Maine reported 238 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. No new deaths were reported.

Since the pandemic began, Maine has reported 234,651 cases of COVID-19 and 2,193 deaths.

Also, masking will be optional on all University of Maine campuses regardless of vaccination status starting Saturday. The new guidelines apply to all indoor and outdoor facilities except classrooms, where face coverings will continue to be required unless a faculty member says otherwise.

This is a reversal of the UMaine System’s March 14 policy, which required indoor masking in almost all situations regardless of vaccination status. Now students can ditch their masks in school facilities including dorms, dining halls and gyms.

A Friday news release announcing the new policy said the system based its decision on guidance from the Maine CDC and data showing a decline in COVID-19 cases across University of Maine System campuses and the state.

As of Monday, there were 24 COVID-19 cases among the UMaine System’s population of more than 30,000 people, down from 218 cases on Jan. 18, the first day of the spring semester. The system reported a 96.1 percent vaccination rate.

The new guidelines will be continuously reviewed, according to the university.

“We’ll consider pivoting back to face coverings if pandemic conditions worsen, but at present, we feel confident that we can be together in person in more of our settings without face coverings so long as we continue testing, and stay up to date on our vaccinations and boosters,” Chancellor Dannel Malloy said in the release.

Vaccinations and boosters will continue to be required through the summer and fall semesters for in-person students.

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