The number of Maine patients hospitalized with COVID-19 went down again Sunday.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported 130 patients with the virus needing care, compared to 139 on Saturday.

Of those 130 people, 19 are in critical care and one is on a ventilator, the state reported.

Nationwide, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising due to the omicron BA.5 variant and related subvariants. Maine’s infection rate remains significantly lower than the national average.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national seven-day case rate is 265.9 for every 100,000 persons. Maine’s seven-day infection rate is 102.2 for every 100,000 persons, according to federal data. The five states with the highest infection rates are California, with 378.9 infections per 100,000, followed by New Mexico, Florida, Kentucky and Alabama.

The five states with the lowest infection rates are Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Statewide, each of Maine’s counties have low community transmission, according to the U.S. CDC.

On Saturday, the state reported one COVID-19-related death and 216 new cases. Infections confirmed by home tests are not included in the official counts. The state typically does not report new cases and deaths on Sunday and Monday.

Since the pandemic began, Maine has recorded 274,500 cases and 2,465 deaths.

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