LincolnHealth reported a record 283 new COVID-19 cases from 1,144 tests for the week of Jan. 10. The positivity rate also rose to a record 24.7%, though compared to the previous week’s report – 277 cases from 1,146 tests – numbers remain stable. Over half of all cases were breakthroughs, those who have been vaccinated and contracted the virus, and 76 of the 18 and under crowd tested positive, about 27% of positive cases.

LincolnHealth’s John Martins said the hospital is now doing a one-day snapshot every week for the vaccination status of positive patients. There were 53 positive cases on Jan. 12: 33, or 62%, were vaccinated with the primary series of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one-dose Johnson & Johnson; six, or 11%, were vaccinated and had a booster shot; and 13, or 24.5%, were not vaccinated. “This snapshot shows the omicron variant’s impact on those who are not fully vaccinated and boosted. The number of positives of those who are boosted is fairly low.”

LincolnHealth continues to meet daily to discuss patient needs and to manage areas of concern, Martins said. The emergency department has been overcrowded by patients awaiting placement in other facilities for behavioral health and nursing and hospice care, he said. “We were able to make a few adjustments during the day to free up some space for trauma patients. Our team continues to do an amazing job despite a staffing shortage (and) we have not met the CDC’s definition of crisis staffing to date.”

As of Jan. 18, no beds were available at LincolnHealth and few were available throughout the MaineHealth system, said Martins. MaineHealth does a daily “capacity call” so all its hospitals know where the closest available beds are.

“It’s important to recognize that our team members are doing heroic work in perhaps the most challenging time in their careers. While there are reports on the national level that indicate this variant is losing its grip in the United States, we have yet to see that here in Maine.”