As part of the State's response to COVID-19, Maine DHHS is offering a series of educational sessions for Maine clinicians on the COVID-19 vaccine(s) and to support efforts to build the knowledge and trust needed to ensure a successful vaccination effort statewide.

Given busy clinician schedules, Maine DHHS is offering a series of short (30min) "COVID-19 Vaccine Info Sessions" that will be hosted twice a week starting Tuesday, Dec 15, 2020. The sessions will occur twice a week for the next several months at the following times:

On December 2, 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") released a Scientific Brief on Options to Reduce Quarantine for Contacts of Persons with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Using Symptom Monitoring and Diagnostic Testing, based on a review of new epidemiological and modeling data.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, food service worker. The case handled food while infectious on November 11, 2020.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Bangor, Maine, food service worker. The case handled food while infectious on October 16-18, 20, 22-25, 27 and 29.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified an outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in individuals who consumed unpasteurized/raw milk from Roux Farm in Shapleigh, Maine, within the last two months. Epidemiologists identified at least four individuals who became ill and tested positive for cryptosporidiosis.Anyone who consumed raw milk (regular or any flavor) from Roux Farm produced before October 18, 2020, may be at elevated risk of cryptosporidiosis. Raw milk from the farm was sold through a variety of stores in the state.

Maine CDC identified a human case of neuroinvasive Flavivirus infection in an adult who resides in Cumberland County. The individual became ill in early September and is currently hospitalized. Serum samples collected September 5th and September 13th tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies at a commercial laboratory. Per established protocols, Maine's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) sent the samples to the U.S. CDC for further confirmation. Plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) testing results from the U.S.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Rockwood, Maine, food service worker. The case handled food while infectious from September 2, 2020, through September 22, 2020.

• Persons who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using a molecular amplification test and have not had a previous positive test, should be considered infected at the time of testing, regardless of any subsequent negative test results.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) has identified a case of acute hepatitis A virus infection in a Saco, Maine food service worker. The case handled food while infectious from August 5, 2020 through August 21, 2020. While this employee was not in charge of preparing food, this employee had access to food in the kitchen. Maine CDC is making these recommendations out of an abundance of caution.

Accumulating evidence supports ending isolation and precautions for persons with COVID-19 using a Symptom-Based Strategy. Except for rare situations, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when to discontinue isolation and precautions. See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html