One in 53 patients with coronavirus associated with a marriage reception in Maine died, officials announced Friday. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is still investigating the incident, which is Maine’s first outbreak linked directly to a social gathering.
The person, whose name was not released, was recently admitted to Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH) following the August 7 wedding. Hospital officials said she died early Friday afternoon.
“Our hearts go out to everyone in our community who is affected by this loss,” the hospital wrote on Facebook on Friday.
“The Maine CDC expresses condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual,” officials said Saturday.
The Maine CDC reported Saturday that 41 coronavirus-positive individuals were linked to the wedding, with an additional 12 people presumably positive. The hospital said it had 366 people tested in connection with the party. Results for 103 people are pending.
Investigators said on Saturday they had identified secondary and tertiary transmission of the virus, meaning it was spread to people who were not present at the wedding, but had close contact with people present at the event ( secondary cases) and close contacts of the secondary cases (tertiary cases). “
The ages of coronavirus cases range from 4 to 98 years old, officials said. Some 83% of patients reported having COVID-19 symptoms.
In all, about 65 people attended the indoor event at the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket earlier this month, officials said. They emphasize the importance of avoiding social gatherings, especially those inside.
The governor’s executive orders currently limit indoor meetings to 50 people if there is adequate space, while 100 people are allowed at outdoor events. Participants are required to follow social distancing guidelines and wear masks at such events.
The Maine CDC is communicating with Big Moose Inn about the nature of the event and meeting state requirements.
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