BAR HARBOR — Government and business leaders agree that widespread testing for the virus that causes COVID-19 is essential to managing and limiting the pandemic, especially as businesses and schools gradually move toward more-like-normal operations. Rural areas of Maine including Mount Desert Island have far fewer cases of the virus than the urban centers, but as the population …
BAR HARBOR — The bad news is the reported COVID-19 case count in Hancock County rose this week to 15 confirmed or probable cases. The good news is that 30,000 high-quality face masks ordered by Mount Desert Island Hospital have arrived and are being distributed to town offices and businesses, along with help from hospital educators about how …
ELLSWORTH – Healthy Acadia will offer a free, four-day workshop designed to help teens talk with peers about substance use. “Sidekicks” is an interactive program supported by Maine Prevention Services thathelps youth gain the skills to have respectful conversations about tobacco use and risky behaviors. The workshop will be offered online via Zoom, June 23-26, from 3–4 p.m. each day. …
ELLSWORTH – Healthy Acadia invites community members to join certified Tai Chi for Health instructor Samantha Williams of Bold Coast Yoga, on Thursday, June 25, from 2–3:45 p.m., for a free, Mindful Movement and Medical Literacy Workshop via Zoom. This workshop is designed to introduce tai chi, yoga and the basics of medical literacy (including searching for health information online). Participants will learn basic yoga poses and tai chi movements, …
BAR HARBOR — The advice from local, state and federal leaders has not changed. The most important and effective steps everyone can take to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 are wearing masks or other face coverings, maintaining 6 feet of distance from others and vigilant hand washing. “It’s all about muscle memory,” MDI Hospital COO Chrissi Maguire said in a recent community forum. …
BAR HARBOR—Dr. David Sugerman has joined Mount Desert Island Hospital as the medical director of the hospital’s emergency department. Dr. Sugerman assumes the role from former medical director Dr. Nathan Donaldson, who will continue to serve as an emergency department staff member. Dr. Sugerman spent three previous summers in MDI Hospital’s emergency department as an attending physician. As a board-certified …
ELLSWORTH—Healthy Acadia is ready to help stores, restaurants and taverns safely sell or serve alcohol. “Two things have changed with our state-certified server/seller training. We will be offering training using Zoom, and, since so many businesses are experiencing financial difficulties, we will not charge for the training,” said Tara Young, Healthy Acadia’s drug-free communities coordinator and one of the trainers. …
BAR HARBOR — The details differ, but both the state and a local task force have drafted plans to use increased testing for the new coronavirus as a way to move toward easing restrictions on travel, business and other activities. The local plan, developed by the Downeast COVID-19 task force, includes funding for symptomatic testing for residents, non-resident employees and visitors. It …
ELLSWORTH—Join the free LiveWell health and wellness program offered on Zoom by the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center. The LiveWell program is a holistic approach to creating a personal wellness plan focused on emotional and spiritual wellness, physical activity, a healthy diet, personal environment and rejuvenation. The five elements, based on the American Cancer Institute’s “Five to Thrive” program, offers the opportunity for people living …
BAR HARBOR — On May 16, Mount Desert Island Hospital reported that an employee of Birch Bay Retirement Village had tested positive for COVID-19. All staff and some of the residents were subsequently tested. Around the same time, the Maine CDC began recommending that “congregate care settings,” such as retirement communities, with a single confirmed case have …
