Maine’s seven-day average of daily COVID-19 cases is virtually identical to what it was one month ago, a clear sign that even as vaccinations accelerate, risks remain.

“It’s a constant concern,” Gov. Janet Mills said Monday when asked about the static case situation on “Maine Calling,” a call-in radio program on Maine Public. Mills said new cases are showing up more frequently in places that have been largely spared, such as sparsely populated Piscataquis County, and she worries that as spring approaches, people might let their guard down.

“I don’t want to see Maine become Ft. Lauderdale spring break,” the governor said, referencing reports of crowds of college-age revelers gathering unmasked in Florida over the weekend.

Maine is one of 17 states that has seen an increase in average daily cases over the last two weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Many more states are continuing to see declines from the post-holiday surge.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a briefing Monday that she is concerned about another nationwide spike in COVID cases, particularly because of what’s happening in several European countries right now.

“Each of these countries has had nadirs like we are having now, and each took an upward trend after they disregarded known mitigation strategies. They simply took their eye off the ball,” Walensky said. “I’m pleading with you, for the sake of our nation’s health. These should be warning signs for all of us. Cases climbed last spring. They climbed again in the summer. They will climb now if we stop taking precautions when we continue to get more and more people vaccinated.”

Maine health officials reported 174 new cases on Monday, along with one additional death. The seven-day daily case average rose to 182 cases, which is slightly higher than the average of 167 cases two weeks ago but nearly identical to the average of 183 this time last month. Cases peaked at more than 600 daily in mid-January and then decreased steadily for a month before leveling off.

Since the pandemic began, there have been 47,199 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 and 725 deaths, according to data tracked by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hospitalizations, which also had leveled off, appear to be creeping back up as well. As of Monday, there were 82 people in a Maine hospital with COVID-19, the highest total since Feb. 19. Of those patients, 24 are in critical care and nine are on ventilators. Hospitalizations peaked at more than 200 in mid-January before dropping as low as 62 earlier this month.

Vaccinations, meanwhile, continue to increase. As of Monday morning, 323,049 people, or 24 percent of Maine’s population, had received a first dose of vaccine, and 189,235 people, or 14 percent of the population, had received a second dose. Those who have received the one-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson are counted in second doses.

The state has moved back into the top 10 in vaccination rates. According to the latest Bloomberg News tracker, Maine ranked 10th in percentage of residents who have been fully vaccinated.

Mills said the state has made great strides, particularly in inoculating older residents, and there are now more than 200 vaccination sites across the state for residents to choose from.

“It’s the most difficult logistical challenge we’ve ever faced,” she said. “The main impediment is simply supply.”

Maine saw a modest increase in vaccine doses this week and is expected to see bigger increases toward the end of March and into April.

As Maine moves to reopen business and leisure activities starting later this month, parents are pressuring schools for more in-person learning. Most Maine schools operate under a hybrid system, with two in-person days per week and the rest remote.

While Freeport, Biddeford and other districts are considering or already have announced plans for more in-person learning, many school leaders are pointing to how difficult it will be to meet the Maine and federal school reopening guidelines, especially distancing recommendations.

But the U.S. CDC guidelines on physical distancing, which currently recommend 6 feet between students and adult staff, may soon be relaxed. Maine health officials have said that if the U.S. CDC recommendations change, they will take a look at altering state guidelines.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN on Sunday that a Massachusetts study that showed there were no significant differences in infection rates in schools that required 3 feet of distance among students and staff versus 6 feet “does indeed” point to a loosening of U.S. CDC school reopening guidelines. Fauci said to expect revisions “soon.”

Walensky also said on Monday that the U.S. CDC is looking at the Massachusetts study closely but said other studies on distancing in schools are underway as well.

Maine does have a 3-foot guideline in its school reopening recommendations, but requires 6 feet between students at lunchtime, when masks are removed.

Massachusetts has similar distancing rules to Maine, but elementary schools in Massachusetts are returning to full-time learning April 5, followed by middle schools on April 28, and a date for high schools is expected to be announced soon.

Maine Medical Center in Portland, the state’s biggest hospital, announced Monday that it will relax its visiting requirement for non-COVID patients beginning Wednesday. The changes include: Allowing one visitor daily from 3-6 p.m. in inpatient areas, including critical care; allowing one person to accompany an adult patient in the emergency department; and allowing pediatric patients to be accompanied by two parents/guardians.

Additionally, patients on palliative care may receive two visitors daily, once per day, at times to be managed by the care team, and up to four family members may visit end-of-life patients in all areas.

“We recognize the incredibly important role that family members and care partners play in providing support and comfort for our patients as well as in helping patients through the transition to home or community care,” MMC President Jeff Sanders said. “This update to our visitor policy is designed to strike an appropriate balance, keeping patients, visitors and care team members as safe as possible while recognizing how important visitors are to a patient’s well-being.

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