AUGUSTA, Maine – The director of the Maine Center for Disease Control warned Monday of another spike in COVID-19 cases in coming days because of people travelling and gathering around the Christmas holiday — and a corresponding increase in testing.

“All of those factors point in the same direction. The bottom line (is) that there’s a high likelihood of an increase in increasing numbers of cases across the state of Maine in the coming weeks,” Dr. Nirav Shah said.

The state saw a similar spike in COVID-19 after Thanksgiving, so hospitals are prepared for more patients, Shah said.

The Maine CDC reported nearly 440 new confirmed coronavirus cases and three more deaths on Monday.

All told, more than 17,000 Mainers — predominantly health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic — have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, representing about 1.3% of the state’s population.

But the state’s allocation has been smaller than expected, and the latest shipment is expected to be more than 300 doses short, he said.

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MENTAL HEALTH

Noting that the holiday season is stressful for many people, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services urged residents not to neglect their mental health.

“While the holiday season can be joyous and celebratory, it’s normal to feel distress during this time of year, and even more so now with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting so many facets of our lives and traditions,” said Dr. Jessica Pollard, director of Office of Behavioral Health.

StrengthenME, which was launched in October, aims to help Mainers cope with the COVID-19 pandemic by providing free tools, support and community connections that promote wellness, resilience and recovery.

Supported by nearly $5 million in federal funding, the StrengthenME coalition has already provided help through over 23,000 contacts with Maine people.

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JOBLESS BENEFITS

People who are enrolled in federal jobless relief programs should continue filing weekly certifications, but some could see delays of a week or more as the state implements reauthorized jobless benefits under the new federal coronavirus relief act.

President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion bipartisan relief bill Sunday, a day after the expiration of federal pandemic unemployment benefits.

Under the new law, two federal jobless benefit programs will be extended through March, unemployed residents will receive a $300 supplemental weekly payment, and the maximum duration of some benefits will be extended.

Benefits will be paid retroactively to either this coming Saturday or Jan. 9, a Department of Labor spokesperson said.

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TOILET PAPER

A Maine toilet paper factory that opened months before panic buying ensued at the start of the pandemic has enjoyed a “banner” first year, its owner said.

But things are beginning to slow down and Tissue Plus is focusing on a delayed renovation of its building in Bangor, Marc Cooper told the Bangor Daily News.

The Bangor company’s original plan was to supply tissue products to commercial customers such as hotels, airports and offices. Instead, it launched a mail-order business that now has customers across 40 states, he said.

Now the company is hoping to continue with its original business plan of providing finished paper goods to industrial and commercial customers, he said.