Plague Journal (54): A few notes on the COVID-19 test results in Maine

From April 15 to May the state of Maine had reached a plateau in the number of COVID-19 currently being treated (the total number of cases minus the recoveries and the deaths. On April 15 that number was 441. On May 6 it was 426. This plateau came at about the predicted date. Authorities were saying the numbers would peak around mid-April. 

The trouble is, they've started rising again. There was a pretty drastic jump on May 7 to 481. That 1-day change was so unusual as to make me think there must be a special circumstance to explain it. On May 8 the number inched downward, and has been on an upward track for the three days since. You can see it all on a graph on this page.

While the plateau in the number was predicted, no one seemed to know how long the plateau will last. The inveterate optimist, I keep looking at these daily numbers and hoping to see the makings of a downward trend. Since the CDC recommends 14 days of a downward trajectory before ending the restrictions, it's pretty clear now that those 14 days have not yet begun. 

If you want to see a state-by-state comparison, The Atlantic's How We Reopen Safely (last updated two days ago) is a good place to start.