On March 11, some Mainers felt special when we learned that Maine had no cases of the Covid-19 virus. The next day, we learned of the first case, and we came back to Earth.

On Sunday (March 29), Maine had 253, many of them clustered in the Portland area. Gov. Janet Mills and state officials are tracking the situation and have urged us all to stay home, especially those who are over 65.

While the tally of Maine virus cases is disconcerting, it is nothing when compared to the big cities. The New York Times reported that NYC is the center of the national outbreak, with about 60,000 cases and 965 deaths. Other metro areas are not far behind.

NewYork public safety dispatchers said they were overwhelmed with calls for aid. Hospitals were in crisis mode with 8,500 patients. They were almost out of supplies and had brought in freezer trucks to store bodies.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN that New York is not the only hotspot. He mentioned New Orleans and said other spots were developing and predicted we could have millions infected and suffer deaths measuring in six figures. Yikes!

What about us? How are we doing?

Our schools and businesses have closed. Restaurants are doing take out only. Churches are closed, and the clergy is using Facebook posts to comfort parishioners. Police are partnering with social service agencies to check on seniors and other neighbors who are at risk. Some civic groups are setting up “phone trees” to check up on members and see if anyone needs supplies or other necessities.

We note that some of our snowbird friends have already returned from the sunny southland. At the same time, town officials debated delaying hooking up the summer water system as a way to discourage other summer residents from coming back early, and possibly bringing the virus with them. Summer colonies all over the nation are having similar conversations as fear of the virus is rising.

Here in Lincoln County, we have not experienced disaster-like numbers. But our local hospitals are preparing for the worst.

For the record, our county has suffered five virus cases, and two were treated at Lincoln Health Damariscotta’s Miles hospital. Both were treated as outpatients and were sent home, according to Dr. Tim Fox, the hospital medical director.

Lincoln Health is consolidating its medical workers in the former Miles Memorial Hospital facility.

In Boothbay Harbor, the Urgent Care clinic located in the old St. Andrews Hospital building has moved across the parking lot to the family practice building.

In Wiscasset, the Lincoln Medical Partners group has moved to the Watson center on the Miles Hospital campus.

In a phone interview last week, Fox said he had been very, very busy. Like a lot of hospital doctors, his job is split. In addition to his hospital administration chores, he is an emergency medicine specialist and sees patients.

How is he holding up? “I am fine,” he answered, but admits he has put in lots of hours.

One of his first jobs to prepare for the anticipated public health crisis was to meet with the staff and ask them if they would be comfortable helping out if “push came to shove.”

“The staff has been great. We talked to all the 40-plus doctors, from surgeons to other specialties, and they agreed to pitch in. We now have an additional 10 docs in the emergency department and 20 hospitalists (physicians who care for patients in the hospital).

Miles hospital is licensed for 25 beds, and, because of the virus emergency, they are permitted to add additional capacity.

“We have four intensive care beds and one negative pressure unit (used to contain airborne contaminants, like viruses). By moving some other units around, we now have eight more ICU beds,” he said. As part of their moving project, Fox said they are working to turn the entire intensive care unit into a negative pressure facility.

What about ventilators? There is a lot of national conversation about the need for vents to take care of patients with a virus-caused severe breathing problem. He said the hospital has two vents and one additional unit used when transporting patients.

“But not everyone who gets it needs a vent,” he said. “It depends on how sick you are. Many respond by staying home for 14 days.”

None of us wants to get “it.”

We asked Dr. Fox for his best advice to avoid becoming a patient in his hospital. He said: “Stay home. Go out only if you have to go to the grocery. Be sure to wash your hands and get exercise. Go outside.”

I think we will stay at home for a while.

Be well.