COVID-19 News and Updates

Hello all,

Nina Duggan here with the latest COVID-19 news and updates.

This week we will be discussing how to interpret COVID-19 case and hospitalization data, a new COVID treatment on the horizon, and the state of the “tripledemic”.

COVID Communication:

COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations: How to Interpret the Data

The combination of an increase in test positivity and a decrease in case numbers is an indicator that many coronavirus infections are not being reported (particularly at home tests), leading to an undercount of cases. A better metric for determining the amount of COVID-19 in the community is looking at hospitalization or wastewater testing data.

Links and Sources: NYT “Tracking Coronavirus in Maine: latest Map and Case Count”

COVID in the News:

State of COVID-19 in Maine

Cases have decreased by 27% in Maine from the state average two weeks ago, with deaths decreasing by 81%. Hospitalizations have increased by 25%. Test positivity is at 8.4% on average across the state, increasing by 21% over the average two weeks ago.

New COVID-19 Treatment VV116 Showing Promising Results

A new antiviral pill, similar to Remdesivir but as effective as Paxlovid, is on the horizon according to results published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine. “VV116” is a new treatment available in pill form that can be taken orally. Promising results from clinical trials show the medication to be just as effective at preventing severe disease and treating COVID as the widely used Paxlovid, but with fewer side effects and interactions with other medications.

VV116 will require more data before authorization from the FDA is considered but at present the antiviral looks to be a promising new avenue of treatment leaving experts hopeful it could help cover patients who are unable to take other extant antiviral medications.

Links and Sources:  NBC News “A promising new Covid pill shows key advantages over Paxlovid in trial”; New England Journal of Medicine “VV116 versus Nirmatrelivir-Ritonavir for Oral Treatment of Covid-19”

Flu, RSV, and COVID-19: An Update on the “Tripledemic”

The end of 2022 was marked by the rise in RSV, Influenza, and COVId-19 cases simultaneously, leading many to dub the period as the beginning of the “tripledemic”.

At present, all three viruses are persisting across the country, with hospitals continuing to be overwhelmed. Over the past few days, Flu and RSV have both seen a slight decline nationally, with pediatric hospital beds at 66% capacity,  whereas Covid hospitalizations are once again on the rise. Experts further caution that the perceived decline in Flu and RSV could be due to a lag in reporting from the recent holidays. Furthermore, experts expect to see increasing cases of all three diseases following travel and gatherings for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year.

Experts are hopeful that we will not see the same kind of surge that we saw last winter, with Omicron variants still being dominant and none of the new variants proving quite as virulent, vaccination seems to be helping to stem the tide.

Experts urge people to take precautions following these holiday gatherings, such as ensuring they are wearing well-fitting masks, social distancing when possible, and making sure they are up to date on flu and Covid vaccinations (especially the new bivalent booster).

Links and Sources: NBC News “Flu and RSV on the decline but Covid hospitalizations on the rise”; NBC News “Tripedemic overwhelming U.S. hospitals”; CDC “Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report (Flu View)”;

Featured in the Field:

Dr. Nirav Shah

Though he needs little introduction, this week’s feature is on Dr. Nirav Shah. Dr. Shah is the director of the Maine CDC, he manages an up-to-date and informative social media presence, primarily through his Twitter account. Sign up here to receive Nina’s COVID-19 updates via email.

Follow Healthy Acadia on TikTok (@healthyacadia) for more updates!

If you or anyone you know have questions or concerns about COVID-19 or the available vaccines please call or text our COVID-19 Peer Support Line at 207-271-6023, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.