LincolnHealth reported 118 new COVID-19 cases from 696 tests for the week of Jan. 24. The data signifies a break in record-setting trends over the past several weeks. Positivity rates also dropped for breakthrough cases, those who have been vaccinated and contracted the virus, from 60% the previous week to 55%. Positivity rate for patients 18 and under remained stable at 33% of cases.

With numbers at their lowest since the end of December, LincolnHealth officials are optimistically cautious the Omicron variant’s peak is behind us.

“It is definitely encouraging that all signs are indicating we are over the omicron peak,” said LincolnHealth Chief Medical Officer Dr. Timothy Fox. “I am very excited about that. Our hospitals, on the other hand, will continue to struggle due to staffing challenges and pent up demand caused by the cancellations and delays of visits and procedures as a result of such a long surge.”

LincolnHealth’s hospital beds on the Miles campus in Damariscotta are still full and its emergency department still faces challenges with patients who are boarding until other resources free up, said LincolnHealth’s John Martins. Many patients are still being rescheduled for non-emergent surgeries requiring overnight stays.

“We can only imagine how frustrating this must be for our patients and their families. We are doing all we can to get these procedures completed.”

Martins said patients awaiting the Moderna vaccine’s full approval from the Food and Drug Administration should reach out to their primary care provider, call 1-888-445-4111 or go to vaccine.mainehealth.com to set up an appointment. The FDA authorized the vaccine for emergency use Dec. 18, 2020 and gave its full approval Feb. 1, 2022.

Anyone who has not yet received a booster shot is encouraged to do so, Martins said. Only 26% of the United States population has done so – ranking 42nd next to Poland and Serbia – and Maine’s overall rate is 37%.

“We can do better,” Martins said.

According to published studies, the booster shots have decreased the likelihood of hospitalization 90-97%, reduced emergency and urgent care visits by 82%, and reduced chances of infection, he said. “During Omicron, those who were vaccinated with a booster shot were 5 times less likely to contract the infection.”

The Miles Campus Watson Center booster clinic is still available by appointment or walk-in. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.