CORONAVIRUS

Maine blueberry workers test positive for coronavirus

Staff Writer
Portsmouth Herald
In this August 2018 photo, a worker rakes wild blueberries at a farm in Union, Maine. State officials are investigating a group of positive coronavirus cases among blueberry workers.

MILBRIDGE, Maine (AP) — Maine officials are investigating a group of positive coronavirus cases among blueberry workers.

Four employees of Wyman's who had just arrived to begin working at a location in Milbridge have tested positive. It was the third cluster of coronavirus cases at a blueberry processing facility or farm in the state, the Portland Press Herald reported.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Nirav Shah said the workers were tested before they began work. The cases have come at a time when the state is struggling to fill agricultural jobs.

In other news related to the pandemic in Maine:

New cases

Maine public health authorities reported 17 new cases of the virus on Wednesday. They also reported an additional death. The state has had more than 3,900 reported cases of the virus and 124 deaths.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

Federal help

Maine's two U.S. senators said the state is getting more than $2.6 million from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support its response to the coronavirus pandemic. They said the state will use the money for surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control, mitigation, communications and preparedness and response activities.

SEACOAST CORONAVIRUS NEWS IS FREE:This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers. Sign up for our free daily or breaking email newsletters and Seacoast Health newsletter to stay informed. Please support local journalism by subscribing to Seacoastonline.com or by subscribing to Fosters.com.