COVID-19 UPDATES: Latest information, visitor restrictions, home care instructions, etc. Updated daily
Screening Hotline: (207) 447-4190
The interactive charts below break down our most current data based on county, age, trends, etc.
Wash your hands often
Avoid close contact
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
Cover coughs and sneezes
Clean and disinfect
How to Protect Yourself and Others
Proper Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19
DIY: Sewn Cloth Face Covering Instructions
DIY: ‘No Sew’ Cloth Face Covering Instructions
Source: Centers for Disease Control
COVID-19 or (coronavirus 2019) is a newly identified coronavirus caused by a virus called SARS-CoV 2. It was first identified in China in December 2019 and has infected thousands of people around the world.
Coronaviruses are a type of virus that typically affect the respiratory tract of birds and mammals; humans included. Doctors associate them with the common cold, bronchitis, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and now, COVID-19.
As we know, COVID-19 is much more severe than other common coronaviruses and can lead to hospitalization or even death.
COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. People infected with the virus have reported a wide range of symptoms; from mild to severe illness.
The symptoms of COVID-19 can be difficult to distinguish, as they present symptoms like other coronaviruses similar to the common cold.
Some or all of the following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure:
This list is not all inclusive. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should call the COVID-19 hotline (207) 447-4190 to be evaluated by an MRH provider. This designated hotline is open Monday through Friday, 8AM – 5PM, to answer your questions and coordinate testing (as needed) and treatment.
Do not present to the emergency room or doctor’s office unless experiencing severe symptoms, such as the emergency warning signs below.
If experiencing any of these severe symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
It is possible to be infected with COVID-19 and spread it to others without experiencing symptoms yourself.
No matter what, if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should self-quarantine for the entire 14-day incubation period. Even if you feel fine, you’re still at risk of spreading the coronavirus to others.
Research has shown that high levels of the virus are present in respiratory secretions during the “presymptomatic” period that can last days to more than a week prior to the fever and cough characteristic of COVID-19.
This ability of the virus to be transmitted by people without symptoms is a major reason for the pandemic.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control, New England Journal of Medicine
Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests.
Please call the COVID-19 hotline (207) 447-4190 or your primary care provider to be evaluated. Based upon their assessment, your provider may refer you for a viral test.
Viral tests check samples from your respiratory system (such as swabs of the inside of the nose) to tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.
Not everyone needs to be tested for COVID-19, but only a healthcare provider can determine what is best for you.
Do not present to the emergency room or doctor’s office unless experiencing severe symptoms, such as the emergency warning signs such as:
Viral tests, also referred to as diagnostic or PCR tests, analyze samples from your respiratory system to tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.
The swab will be sent away to a lab for testing, which can take anywhere from 24-48 hours. In the meantime, you should follow precautions as if you do have the virus.
Keep in mind: The virus can take a few days to begin replicating in the throat and nose. Your body needs to produce enough viral load in order to be detected by the PCR testing.
Tests typically take between 24-48 hours to be processed at the lab.
Your provider will contact you with your test results and guidance on how to care for yourself, precautions to take with others, treatment of symptoms, etc.
In other words, a negative test result does not mean you won’t get sick later. This means you could still spread the virus.
If you think you may have had COVID-19, an antibody test may assist in that determination. It is designed to to identify antibodies otherwise known as proteins that help fight off infection.
It can take the body 1-3 weeks after the infection to make antibodies. Antibodies are typically associated with immunity, but experts still do not know if having antibodies to the COVID-19 virus can protect someone from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last.
Another concern around antibody tests are their reliability. Unfortunately, these tests in their current form are not up to par as far as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is concerned.
At this time, the most practical use for antibody testing is in regard to COVID-19 plasma donations.
Antibody tests should not be used to diagnose someone as being currently sick with COVID-19.
State of Maine partners with IDEXX To more than triple testing capacity
Local connection: Puritan Medical of Guilford doubles COVID-19 Swab Production
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 at this time.
Those with COVID-19 should seek out supportive care to help relieve symptoms. Based upon the individual’s symptoms, this may include:
If you have asthma or another respiratory illness, be sure to have extra inhalers or medication on hand.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
MRH is currently in “incident command” mode; meaning that all decisions and preparation are being coordinated daily by senior administration with input from department managers, medical staff, and outside agencies.
Information is rapidly changing, and we are working diligently to make the best decisions with the information provided to us by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of Maine.
We have an extensive plan we’re working through and implementing as necessary.
Please take the time to learn more about some of the actions we’ve taken to protect our community and prepare for COVID-19.
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June 11th, 2020
After being closed due to COVID-19, we’re excited to share that LIFEstyle Fitness is re-opening Monday, June 15th, under strict guidelines put forth by the state. We’re taking every precaution we feel necessary to ensure your safety while working out.
There will be noticeable changes, and we urge you to review them prior to your arrival in our letter to LIFEstyle Fitness clients.
If you have questions, please call us during regular business hours at (207) 723-6454.
Our staff thanks you for your patience and cooperation as we all adjust to these new procedures.
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April 27, 2020
We’ve been hearing some buzz that some people in our community believe we are in the clear in terms of the coronavirus in the Katahdin Region. Unfortunately, this is simply not true.
While Maine is in kind of a steady state in terms of new COVID cases, the Katahdin Region is not. Our overall numbers are relatively low in the tri-town area, but they continue to rise by a couple of patients each day.
There are now between 10 and 15 confirmed positive COVID cases in the Katahdin Region.
This should be a wake-up call to the community. COVID-19 is here, and this is not the time to relax the pandemic guidelines. Rather, we need to ramp them up.
We must all be strongly committed to social distancing, mask use, hand washing, etc. If you have any signs of illness, please isolate yourself. These simple precautions will help protect us all.
Our goal is to keep everyone in our community healthy. We’ll do our part— but we need you to do yours.
Stay well. Be vigilant. We’ll get through this together!
_______________________________________
April 9, 2020
The COVID-19 hotline is now open SEVEN days a week.
_______________________________________
April 3, 2020
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April 2, 2020
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April 1, 2020
The first positive case of COVID-19 in the tri-town region has been confirmed.
_______________________________________
March 30, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 precautions, we have temporarily changed the way we are seeing patients to optimize your safety. Anyone presenting to our facilities will be greeted at the door, you will be asked a series of questions and have your temperature checked prior to entering the offices.
Patients needing to be seen for a sick or acute visit will be scheduled at our Primary Care practice located at the lower Main Entrance of Millinocket Regional Hospital.
Patients needing to be scheduled for a routine visit, follow up appointment, physical or well-child exam, will be scheduled at our Family Medicine location at the top of Poplar Street.
We are going to try our best to keep you with your designated provider, however, we ask for your flexibility during this time.
If you would prefer to reschedule your visit, we will support you. However, we can also offer you a telephone visit.
_______________________________________
March 27, 2020
Maine reported the first death from coronavirus (COVID-19) today.
_______________________________________
March 19, 2020
All entry to Millinocket Regional Hospital must be through the main entrance on the upper level. An alternate entry point is available Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm at the lower level Somerset Street entrance.
Employees and patients will be screened prior to entry, including obtaining temperature and a check for respiratory symptoms.
_______________________________________
March 13, 2020
For the protection of our patients, our staff, our community, and you from potential COVID-19 Virus, MRH has implemented a NO VISITOR policy effective immediately.
If accompanying a patient that is being seen in our Emergency Department or one of our medical offices, we ask that you wait in your vehicle for your friend or family member.
_______________________________________
March 10, 2020
MRH is currently in “incident command” mode; meaning that all decisions and preparation are being coordinated daily by senior administration with input from department managers, medical staff, and outside agencies.
Information is rapidly changing, and we are working diligently to make the best decisions with the information provided to us by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of Maine.
We have an extensive plan we’re working through and implementing as necessary.
Please take the time to learn more about some of the actions we’ve taken to protect our community and prepare for COVID-19.
MRH is currently in “incident command” mode; meaning that all decisions and preparation are being coordinated daily by senior administration with input from department managers, medical staff, and outside agencies.
Information is rapidly changing, and we are working diligently to make the best decisions with the information provided to us by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of Maine.
We have an extensive plan we’re working through and implementing as necessary.
Please take the time to learn more about some of the actions we’ve taken to protect our community and prepare for COVID-19.
_______________________________________
April 27, 2020
We’ve been hearing some buzz that some people in our community believe we are in the clear in terms of the coronavirus in the Katahdin Region. Unfortunately, this is simply not true.
While Maine is in kind of a steady state in terms of new COVID cases, the Katahdin Region is not. Our overall numbers are relatively low in the tri-town area, but they continue to rise by a couple of patients each day.
There are now between 10 and 15 confirmed positive COVID cases in the Katahdin Region.
This should be a wake-up call to the community. COVID-19 is here, and this is not the time to relax the pandemic guidelines. Rather, we need to ramp them up.
We must all be strongly committed to social distancing, mask use, hand washing, etc. If you have any signs of illness, please isolate yourself. These simple precautions will help protect us all.
Our goal is to keep everyone in our community healthy. We’ll do our part— but we need you to do yours.
Stay well. Be vigilant. We’ll get through this together!
_______________________________________
April 9, 2020
The COVID-19 hotline is now open SEVEN days a week.
_______________________________________
April 3, 2020
_______________________________________
April 2, 2020
_______________________________________
April 1, 2020
The first positive case of COVID-19 in the tri-town region has been confirmed.
_______________________________________
March 30, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 precautions, we have temporarily changed the way we are seeing patients to optimize your safety. Anyone presenting to our facilities will be greeted at the door, you will be asked a series of questions and have your temperature checked prior to entering the offices.
Patients needing to be seen for a sick or acute visit will be scheduled at our Primary Care practice located at the lower Main Entrance of Millinocket Regional Hospital.
Patients needing to be scheduled for a routine visit, follow up appointment, physical or well-child exam, will be scheduled at our Family Medicine location at the top of Poplar Street.
We are going to try our best to keep you with your designated provider, however, we ask for your flexibility during this time.
If you would prefer to reschedule your visit, we will support you. However, we can also offer you a telephone visit.
_______________________________________
March 27, 2020
Maine reported the first death from coronavirus (COVID-19) today.
_______________________________________
March 19, 2020
All entry to Millinocket Regional Hospital must be through the main entrance on the upper level. An alternate entry point is available Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm at the lower level Somerset Street entrance.
Employees and patients will be screened prior to entry, including obtaining temperature and a check for respiratory symptoms.
_______________________________________
March 13, 2020
For the protection of our patients, our staff, our community, and you from potential COVID-19 Virus, MRH has implemented a NO VISITOR policy effective immediately.
If accompanying a patient that is being seen in our Emergency Department or one of our medical offices, we ask that you wait in your vehicle for your friend or family member.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should call the COVID-19 hotline (207) 447-4190 to be evaluated by an MRH provider. This designated hotline is open Monday through Friday, 8AM – 5PM, to answer questions as well as coordinate testing and treatment.
Do not present to the emergency room or doctor’s office unless experiencing severe symptoms such as: trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake or bluish lips or face
It can take anywhere for 2-14 days for symptoms to appear after exposure.
It is possible to be infected with COVID-19 and spread it to others without experiencing symptoms yourself.
No matter what, if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should self-quarantine for the entire 14-day incubation period. Even if you feel fine, you’re still at risk of spreading the coronavirus to others.
Research has shown that high levels of the virus are present in respiratory secretions during the “presymptomatic” period that can last days to more than a week prior to the fever and cough characteristic of COVID-19.
This ability of the virus to be transmitted by people without symptoms is a major reason for the pandemic.
Household members, intimate partners, and caregivers in a non-healthcare setting who have close contact* with a person with symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 or a person under investigation should monitor their health and they should call their healthcare provider right away if they develop symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough, shortness of breath).
*Close contact is defined as “being within approximately 6 feet of a COVID-19 person for a prolonged time.” Close contact can occur while caring for, living with, visiting, or sharing a health care waiting area or room with a COVID-19 case or close contact is also having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on).
According to the US Department of Health & Human Services, isolation and quarantine are public health practices used to protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease.
Patients with COVID-19 (whether confirmed or suspected) should remain under home isolation precautions until the risk of secondary transmission to others is thought to be low. The minimum time period is 10 days, and 3 days must then have passed where there is NO fever without the use of fever lowering medications, and other symptoms are improving such as cough and shortness of breath.
If you have tested positive but have been symptom free, the isolation from others should be for a minimum of 10 days since you received a positive test.
Cloth face mask FAQ + instructions
Home Care Instructions for COVID-19
Sources: Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Health & Human Services
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Visitors are defined as anyone who is not actively receiving healthcare services.
This includes but is not limited to:
If you are accompanying a patient that is being seen in our Emergency Department or one of our medical offices, please wait in your vehicle for your friend or family member.
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Those approved for entry, including staff, must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms prior to entry. Any person (including staff) failing the screen will be directed to receive a medical evaluation and possible COVID-19 testing.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time. While this may cause some inconvenience, please remember these measures are in place for your safety and the safety of our patients.
Due to the hospital’s strict NO VISITOR POLICY, entrance to MRH is restricted to employees and patients seeking healthcare. In other words, we are not accepting in-person payments unless you’re already in the building to obtain medical services.
Other options for bill pay include online or via good, old-fashioned mail.
Mail check to address provided on the statement or to:
Millinocket Regional Hospital
200 Somerset Street
Millinocket, ME 04462
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Trubridge (877) 818-1379
MRH (207) 723-3369
…………………(207) 723-7247
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation!
