Far-spreading Millinocket wedding outbreak spurs call for individual, business vigilance
Photo / Maureen Milliken
Gov. Janet Mills and Nirav Shah, director of the Maind CDC, at the March 12 news conference announcing the state's initial public health moves to slow the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Tuesday the two said an outbreak linked to a wedding in Millinocket underlines the necessity to still follow guidelines.
It started with a wedding on Aug. 7 where there was reportedly little social distancing and most of the 65 attendees didn't wear masks. Less than three weeks later, at least 85 people linked to that wedding or its guests have tested positive for COVID-19, including 18 associated with the York County Jail, and one person has died.
The rapid spread across hundreds of miles spurred a call Tuesday from Gov. Janet Mills and Nirav Shah, director of the Maine CDC, to the state's businesses and residents not to let Maine's overall low virus numbers cause complacency. The pair stressed that the need to be vigilant is as important now as it was in March, when measures were first taken to slow the outbreak of the disease.
The 85 cases associated with the Millinocket-area wedding and its reception include six at Maplecrest Rehabilitation and Living Center in Madison, a 58-bed nursing home 100 miles away — one of the staff members attended the wedding.
A staff member of the York County Jail, more than 200 miles away, also attended, and now 18 cases at the jail and the York County complex are associated with the wedding. The York County outbreak comprises seven inmates, nine jail staff and two York County employees who work in the complex. Those cases are included in the 85 linked to the wedding.
Maine CDC is also investigating an outbreak among York County firefighters that hasn't been linked to the county complex cases.
“What these outbreaks show — whether it’s the wedding or Maplecreast or the York County Jail complex — these recent examples ... demonstrate how aggressive and how opportunistic this virus is and how quickly it can move from one community to another," Shah said at Tuesday's biweekly briefing.
"Even if those communities are miles apart, separated by multiple counties in between, what we’ve learned about COVID-19 is that it can be the uninvited guest at every single wedding, party or event in Maine. The virus is where we are, then it comes home with us."
Wedding investigation ongoing
The Big Moose Inn, Cabins & Campground was cited by the Maine CDC last week for exceeding the indoor gathering limit of 50 people — there were 65 wedding guests — and for not ensuring six-feet social distancing or gathering contact information from those in attendance, as required. Shaw also confirmed at Tuesday's briefing that the investigation shows most of the guests weren't wearing protective face masks.
Big Moose is the first business in the state to be cited for not complying with state public health orders related to the pandemic. The citation comes with a requirement to agree to comply in the future, but no fines unless there's another violation.
The couple who held the wedding, who haven't been publicly identified, and the church where it took place, Tri-Town Baptist Church in East Millinocket, haven't been cited, but Shah said the investigation is ongoing.
Shah said the link between the Millinocket-area outbreak and the York County one was determined earlier Tuesday.
"Right now it's under evaluation. We want to make sure have all the facts, the key pieces to make sure we understand it fully," he said. "Given the expansion of the outbreak and the number of cases now connected, we're also focused on mitigating spread."
Shah said that the investigation shows so far that that “mask wearing was not commonplace or widespread” at the wedding. He also said it hasn't yet been determined how much information the venue provided those attending aside from posting signs.
Steve Hewins, executive director of HospitalityME, which represents more than 1,000 members in the restaurant and lodging industry in the state, told Mainebiz the majority of business owners are following the rules.
"This shows the importance of closely following all protocols so that employees, guests and the general public are kept safe," Hewins said Wednesday. "However, this one incident also overshadows the incredible work being done by thousands of restaurants and hotels across the state in keeping Maine’s infection numbers low even while our peak summer season remains in full swing."
The association, along with retailers and other related associations, has pushed since late spring to allow further opening, and stressed that restaurants and lodging establishments will follow guidelines to keep spreads, like the one in Millinocket, from occurring.
The state supplies lengthy checklists of public safety measures, and the hospitality industry has also teamed with Eastern Maine Community College to provide free online training on safety measures.
'We can't let our guard down'
But Mills and Shah emphasized Tuesday that one incident can have wide-ranging effects.
The fact the majority of Maine individuals and businesses are following the rules is what has kept the state's number of cases among the lowest in the country, Mills said. Maine's seven-day postivity rate among those tested is 0.74% compared to 7% nationwide.
"We know we can’t let down our guard now," she said. "I know for many people the worst parts of this pandemic feel far away, like they’re in another country or another state," but "the spread here isn't just a possibility, it's a reality."
She added, "A woman who never even attended the wedding or the reception, who interacted with someone else who did attend the wedding or reception, lost her life to this virus. One person, one contact, can light a match, can spark a fire, that we may be unable to put out and it may cause our health care system to be overwhelmed it may cause people to lose their life."
Maine CDC is also investigating an outbreak at the Sanford, Buxton and Saco fire departments, which share some members, Shah said. While they are in York County, he said so far there's been no link the county jail and Millinocket-area outbreaks. He also confirmed, in response to a reporter's question, that the pastor of a church in Sanford officiated at the East Millinocket wedding.
Shah said the spread from the wedding provides a glimpse of how quickly an outbreak can unfold. Of the cases associated with the wedding, 32 are people who attended the wedding or reception, 33 are people who didn't, but had close contact with them, and 20 had close contact with the secondary people.
A wedding guest infected their parent, that parent had contact with another adult child who works at Maplecrest, and who infected five people there — four residents and one staff member. "All of this unfolded in two and a half weeks," Shah said. "That’s just an example of how quickly this virus can spread, from a wedding to a guest to a parent to another child to a nursing home.”
Mills and Shah stressed that it's still important for people to wear masks, practice social distancing and stay home when they can, particularly if they don't feel well.
“In light of the situation in York County and Sanford, please do not go to work if you are not feeling well," Shah said. "Gone are the days when powering through the workday with a cold is the heroic thing to do. Right now, in an era of COVID-19, staying home when you are sick is the most heroic thing that you can do."
"We should be going about our days as if the virus is everywhere around us," Shah said.
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