HOULTON, Maine — With 11 single cases of COVID-19 being reported across Aroostook County on Tuesday, the rural region has now seen its highest single-day spike of cases since the beginning of the pandemic that has infected more than 12 million people nationwide.
The Maine CDC is not currently investigating any potential outbreaks in Aroostook County, and attributed the increased number of cases to the larger community transmission that is occurring statewide, according to Robert Long, a spokesman for the Maine Center for Disease Control.
“Given that all of Maine is experiencing community transmission, it’s likely that the number of cases in each county will continue to increase,” Long said. “That’s why Maine CDC continues to recommend that people everywhere in Maine live their lives with the understanding that the virus is in their neighborhood.”
The announcement comes as several businesses and schools across The County have announced closures due to possible exposures of the virus. Houlton High School announced at the start of this week it would be taking an early Thanksgiving break and canceling all classes held Monday and Tuesday, including all remote learning classes. Houlton’s Putnam House Senior Center also announced it was closing temporarily due to COVID exposure.
Further north, four students at the University of Maine at Presque Isle were confirmed to have tested positive for the virus and caused the college to transition to online learning a couple days earlier than they had planned. Several prominent businesses in the Presque Isle area, such as Pronto Burrito and Big Cheese Pizza, have been affected by COVID exposure and announced temporary closures.
In Caribou, It was announced that the new Caribou Community School, which opened only at the start of this month, has switched to remote learning after a positive COVID case was found at the school.
Long continued to stress the Maine CDC recommendations for avoiding further spread of the virus be followed as cases reach record highs, both in Aroostook County and across Maine.
“Wear face coverings in public. Stay at least 6 feet away from others. Avoid non-essential gatherings with people who are not members of your immediate household. Consider curbside pickup or delivery. Limit travel to ways that minimize public interaction,” he said. “These are the best tools that Maine people have to slow the spread of the virus.”
