UMaine System bans nonessential air travel as Maine CDC starts coronavirus testing
More Information
The University of Maine System will prohibit all university-sponsored non-essential air travel because of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as the Maine Center for Disease starts testing for the virus at a state facility in Augusta, the organizations said in separate announcements.
No case has yet been reported in Maine.
Besides the travel restriction, the UMaine System said it's strongly encouraging students, faculty and staff to avoid personal travel to any domestic or international areas with known COVID-19 cases or community transmission of the disease.
Spring semester enrollment in the University of Maine system is around 23,000 students, according to spokesperson Dan Demeritt.
The limitations are part of a number of COVID-19 directives Chancellor Dannel Malloy developed with presidents at each campus and the dean of Maine Law to help limit potential exposure to the virus.
To encourage students to stay on campus during spring break next week, UMS member schools will keep residence and dining halls open without additional room and board charges.
Campus operation teams will be working over the next few days to finalize plans to potentially accommodate thousands of students living on campus next week.
"We want to encourage students, faculty and staff to stay here in Maine to limit their potential exposure to coronavirus and to do our part to halt the spread of this terrible disease," Malloy said in a statement.
The state lab on Friday completed protocols to be able to conduct testing, according to a news release.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control authorizes state labs to conduct testing and prioritized those authorizations based on the need in each state. Samples collected in Maine before Friday were sent to the U.S. CDC lab for testing. At present, there have been no positive cases for individuals in Maine. Some results from samples sent to the U.S. CDC lab are pending.
As of yesterday and moving forward, samples will be tested at the Augusta lab. Results for tests typically can be expected within 48 hours of receipt. The first round of results is expected today.
Samples that test positive for COVID-19 will be classified as presumptive positive and will be sent to the U.S. CDC lab for confirmation. At present, Maine has no presumptive positive or confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Maine CDC will announce a presumptive positive or confirmed case.
The state lab has capacity to complete testing for 100 to 200 patients per day. To date, that capacity far exceeds the demand for COVID-19 testing in Maine. Samples are being processed promptly. Maine CDC has a plan to replenish testing supplies as needed.
Under the latest U.S. CDC testing criteria, medical providers determine who should be tested for COVID-19. Individuals who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, shortness of breath, or other lower respiratory distress, should contact a medical provider before going to a health care facility. Providers will screen individuals and use the revised U.S. CDC criteria to determine whether testing is warranted.
To date, fewer than 100 individuals in Maine have met that criteria, though that figure is fluid and continually changing.
Maine CDC continues comprehensive planning to ensure Maine is ready should the virus affect people here. Visit the Maine CDC website for more information.
Messages from business chambers
In terms of business preparedness, the Bangor Regional Chamber of Commerce will offer a free seminar this Friday to educate and inform employers about what precautions they should take in the event of an outbreak.
The event, open to any member of the business community, will include community emergency preparedness efforts underway in Bangor and insights from a legal professional about employment laws that will likely impact the way in which employers need to prepare and/or respond to the threat .
And in Maine's largest city, the Portland Regional Chamber of commerce sent an email to members Friday with a brief outline of recommended health practices from the Maine CDC.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments