A wedding and reception on Aug. 7 in Millinocket that led to an outbreak of coronavirus is now linked to 53 cases of the virus along with one previously reported death, the state said Saturday.
Researchers from the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said they have now identified secondary and tertiary transmission of the virus that comes from marriage and reception, meaning that people are infected who did not attend but came into contact with attendees .
The 53 reported cases reflect an increase of 16 since Friday, when CDC officials reported 37 cases related to the marriage. The state reported the death of one woman who was admitted to a hospital for treatment in connection with the outbreak.
Currently, 41 confirmed and 12 probable cases have been included in the outbreak, in individuals ranging from 4 to 98 years old. 83 percent of confirmed and probable cases have occurred so far in those who reported symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, fatigue, or body aches among many others.
About 65 guests attended the wedding, exceeding the current limit of 50 people at indoor meetings. The Big Moose Inn, where the reception was held, is quoted; officials have not decided whether to punish the Tri Town Baptist Church in East Millinocket, where the wedding was held.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said that the individual associated with this outbreak who died attended the wedding; that person did not join.
