Coronavirus Update: Senator Collins Meets with Director of Maine CDC on Efforts to Protect Mainers and Secure Federal Funding

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins met with Dr. Nirav Shah, the Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in her Washington, D.C., office to discuss Maine and the federal government’s ongoing response and preparedness for the coronavirus.

“The Maine CDC is taking a number of precautions to prepare for potential community spread of coronavirus, protecting the health and safety of individuals throughout our state,” said Senator Collins.  “Dr. Shah and I met in Washington to discuss these steps, which include actively equipping Maine’s health care providers with the latest information on how to identify symptoms, respond to any potential cases, and ultimately prevent the spread of the virus.  The Maine CDC is also prepared to quickly identify and evaluate any individuals who may have been exposed.”

“Dr. Shah said that the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, of which he is a member, estimates that $3.1 billion in immediate federal resources will be needed for the coronavirus response, including giving state and local health departments the tools they need to respond to this threat.  As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will advocate for the resources needed to respond and protect public health,” Senator Collins continued.

One Maine resident has been tested for the coronavirus.  The test results came back negative on February 13, 2020.  For more information on how to identify symptoms and take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, please visit the Maine CDC’s website.

Senator Collins and Dr. Shah also discussed the record-high number of Lyme disease cases reported in Maine in 2019.  Senator Collins authored legislation to fight tick-borne illnesses that was recently signed into law.