AUGUSTA — The Maine CDC has updated its list of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the state of Maine.

Maine CDC conducts case investigations and contact tracing Monday through Friday. As a result, COVID-19 case data will be updated Tuesday through Saturday. Case data will not be updated Sunday and Monday or on holidays.

The Maine CDC has been processing a backlog of positive COVID-19 test results that accumulated because of the Omicron surge, and has launched a system to automate a portion of this process. As a result, for several days with the update starting February 15, there will be a significant increase in the day-to-day tallies of total cases, confirmed cases, and probable cases.

“Daily case counts are, and always have been, an underestimate of the true number of cases out there," Dr. Nirav Shah, Director of the Maine CDC, said in a January press briefing. “At this point in the pandemic, case counts are the not the metric of the moment.”

Knox County, since March 2020, has recorded 4,860 cases, 71 hospitalizations and 22 deaths. This data includes an increase of 171 new cases since Saturday’s update.

Waldo County, since March 2020, has recorded 4,970 cases, 95 hospitalizations and 52 deaths. This data includes an increase of 318 new cases since Saturday’s update.

Lincoln County, since March 2020, has recorded 4,317 cases, 62 hospitalizations and 23 deaths. This data includes an increase of 306 new cases and two new deaths since Saturday’s update.

The above data represents the number of full-time Maine residents who have been tested for COVID-19, according to the Maine CDC.

“Data are about individuals who claim residency in Maine regardless of what state they were tested in, or where they are currently living,” the Maine CDC says. “For example, an individual who claims residency in Maine but lives in Florida will appear in this data even if they were living in Florida at the time of illness. County listings are by residence of patient, not location of the hospital or testing location.”

There have been more than 198,600 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 across the state since the outbreak began in March 2020. A confirmed case represents when SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected using a molecular amplification test (e.g. PCR) from any approved lab.

Across the state, 1,849 individuals have passed away since the start of the outbreak after testing positive for COVID-19.

The cumulative number of people hospitalized, at some point during their illness, across the state since the start of the outbreak stands at more than 4,100.

Looking at present statewide hospital COVID-19 data, there are presently 275 hospitalized, including 65 in critical care and 29 on a ventilator.