Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks at a news conference at the State House, in Augusta, Maine, after it was announced that one person has tested positive for coronavirus in Maine, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (Robert F. Bukaty | AP)

Aroostook County EMA responds to COVID-19

In response to the increasing spread of COVID-19 and the announcement on Friday of two more presumptive positive cases in Maine, Darren Woods, director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency, reached out to the public about The County’s response to the virus.

As of 1 p.m. Friday, March 13, test results show that two Maine residents have tested presumptive positive for the coronavirus. Click here for the latest coronavirus news, which the BDN has made free for the public. You can support this mission by purchasing a digital subscription.

CARIBOU, Maine — In response to the increasing spread of COVID-19 and the announcement on Friday of two more presumptive positive cases in Maine, Darren Woods, director of the Aroostook County Emergency Management Agency, reached out to the public about The County’s response to the virus.

Woods indicated local emergency authorities have explored plans for combating similar events for several years.

“The Aroostook County EMA wants to assure the public that efforts to plan for and respond to the current public health event, COVID-19, have been going on for quite some time. Our healthcare officials have been working with emergency management staff for years planning for various pandemic emergencies. Those partners have been updating plans over the last six months,” Woods said.

“This is an ever-evolving situation, but the communication and coordination between these critical agencies has been ongoing,” he said.

People should remember that though they should stay informed and prepare at home and in the workplace, there is no need to panic.

“Healthcare officials are the lead agencies in this type of event, and we will continue to take our direction from them while sharing their important information,” Woods said.

Fighting the coronavirus outbreak with facts, not fear, is critical, he said, adding that agencies participate in daily conference calls to share pertinent information.

“We should definitely heed the warnings of our medical personnel. That said, we should remember to be kind and think of others. As a society starts to get panicked, their decision-making skills also change. Let’s not let ourselves forget who we are and how we take care of one another,” Woods said.

Aroostook County EMA is distributing local information on their website, aroostookema.com, and on itsFacebook page.

For further information on the ongoing situation, visit the Maine Centers for Disease Control website at maine.gov.