LincolnHealth reported a record 90 new COVID-19 cases from 636 tests for the week of Nov. 29. The data represents a record positivity rate of 14.2%. Breakthrough cases, those who have been vaccinated and tested positive, also rose to 29% of cases from 22% the week before. LincolnHealth Director of Communications John Martins said numbers appear to be trending upwards with 24 new cases on Dec. 6 alone.

The LincolnHealth Respiratory Care Clinic in Damariscotta will be moving Dec. 18 from the Van Winkle Center to the Arrowsmith Building parking lot on Belvedere Road, said Martins. Testing will continue by appointment only at the new location Dec. 20.

“This new location helps get some traffic off campus and allows LincolnHealth to begin working on expanding space for physical therapy, occupational therapy wellness and nutrition services. That project will take the better part of a year, but it’s time to get it started.”

LincolnHealth has begun a second round of school clinics for students ages 5-11 and is trying to host more clinics dedicated to the age group outside the schools, Martins said. The hospital also continues to hold clinics for booster shots, he said.

“As you’ve likely been seeing on the news, capacity in the hospital remains a significant concern. Our teams continue to rise to the occasion despite all the challenges. Our communities are so fortunate to have so many skilled and dedicated team members (and) we congratulate this team for its continued excellence.”