More than two dozen Maine residents have tested positive for the coronavirus after a wedding in Millinocket – the state’s first outbreak linked to a social gathering, officials said Monday. Millinocket Regional Hospital has confirmed that there are now 28 positive cases linked to the event and that number is expected to go up as tests continue, CBS affiliate WABI-TV reports.
At least 18 people who attended the Aug. 7 reception and at least six others who had close contact with attendees tested positive, the Maine Center for Disease Control reported earlier. All told, about 65 people attended the indoor event at the Big Moose Inn, said Maine CDC spokesman Robert Long.
The governor’s executive orders are held in world pandemic limit meetings to 50 people if there is enough space, while 100 people are allowed at events outside. Participants should also follow physical distance directions and wear masks when not eating.
The Maine CDC communicates with Big Moose Inn about the nature of the event and compliance with state requirements. A telephone message was left at the inn on Monday afternoon.
Millinocket Town Manager John Davis said Monday he did not have all the details about the outbreak, but said there were enough concerns to close town halls and local schools as a precaution.
“We did not want to take chances,” he said.
It was the first outbreak linked to a specific social event in Maine, where most previous outbreaks are linked to workplaces or community care facilities, Long said Monday.
Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
It is unclear if the owner of the Big Moose Inn could be quoted as confirming that there were too many people at the reception. The governor’s executive orders allow for a maximum fine of $ 10,000, the governor’s spokesman said.
Dr Nirav Shah, director of the Maine CDC, had plans to tackle the outbreak during a regular briefing on Tuesday.
In Maine, nearly 4,200 people have contracted the virus, including 29 additional cases reported Monday. The death toll remained unchanged at 127 on Monday, the Maine CDC said.
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