LincolnHealth reported 46 COVID-19 cases out of 613 tests for the week of Oct. 25. The slight increase of both numbers from the previous week’s 39 cases out of 551 tests made for a bump up from 7.1% to 7.5% positive cases. There were 16 breakthrough cases, those who are vaccinated and tested positive, and 14 in the 18 and under crowd for a respective 35% and 30% of cases. LincolnHealth ended October with just over 19,500 tests since January.

Director of Communications John Martins said despite a downward national trend in COVID-19 cases, Maine and Lincoln County in particular have not seen a sizable drop in the last three weeks. Early indicators for this week are no exception, he said. By 11:30 a.m. Nov. 2, 16 new positive cases were reported and only one was a breakthrough case. “As a reminder, we continue to offer COVID-19 vaccine in our primary care offices by appointment or by walk-in.”

Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 booster shots are now available for anyone 18 and older by appointment at Watson Health Center on the Miles Campus. To qualify for a booster, patients must have had their final Moderna or Pfizer dose no sooner than six months ago or their Johnson & Johnson two months ago. Appointments are available at vaccine.mainehealth.org or by phone, 1-877-780-7545, though appointments are booked out for the next two weeks.

Said Martins, “If someone goes to the site and learns there are no open appointments, please visit later in the day. As demand is difficult to assess and staffing across this clinic, school clinics and primary care officers makes for a unique challenge, we will open up the schedule when we see the need to do so. Please be patient.”

Martins said LincolnHealth anticipated U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approval for vaccines for children ages 5-11 sometime Nov. 2. LincolnHealth has been working with schools to set up clinics since it has been the most efficient way to deliver the vaccine. Martins said he anticipates clinics for the two weeks before Thanksgiving. Clinics will begin again after the holiday and plans for a by-appointment only clinic for Nov. 13 are in the works with information to come on LincolnHealth’s Facebook page. “Just like adults, students will need two doses 21 days apart from each other. The dose is much smaller and has been proven to be safe and effective … (With) many cases in the school-aged population, we are hopeful that parents will consider the benefits of the protection offered by the vaccine and have the children vaccinated.”

Martins said capacity issues at LincolnHealth persist with the ability to admit new patients being limited. The same issues are being seen statewide. “We continue to discuss capacity on a daily basis across the MaineHealth system and a few times each week locally. We are still challenged by patients in our hospital awaiting placement in another facility better suited to their healthcare needs.”