Or on the line every day. Last week, we talked about how important testing is to our desire to reopen the economy while taking every appropriate measure to protect the lives and health of customers, staff, business owners, visitors and residents in every corner of our state. Today, we are very pleased to announce a partnership with idx it employs 3000 people in our state, and worldwide leader in the production of diagnostics is partnering with us to provide covid19 test material sufficient to more than triple our current Testing Capacity. While this a deal was and that works, we boarded for the fda and washington to give final emergency use approval to idexx new approval. That approval arrived this morning. This changes everything. For weeks, my administration has been in discussions with idexx to make sure people of wade would be the beneficiary of their new test kits should fda approve them. And now we have that approval. As a result of this partnership, the state of maine will have enough of these kits to run at least 5000 tests. Week for the foreseeable future. In combination with the main cdc current capacity of 2000 tests. Weeks, our total Testing Capacity is more than tripled. These numbers are in addition to tests conducted to maine residents both inside and outside the state. Additionally i am so additionally please to say idexx is lending a testing platform to the main cdc laboratory to help accommodate the higher testing volume. And they are generously donating enough test kits to conduct an additional 3500 tests. This significant expansion of testing will ultimately allow main cdc to eliminate testing prioritization, system like that in other states which we have already had to implement with limited National Supply of testing materials. Once the testing with this new platform and materials is operational, which may be as early as next week, Healthcare Providers all across maine will be able to seek testing for anyone they suspect of having covid19. Including, not simply people with symptoms, but also people who have had close contact with a person with covid19, with a spouse, furthermore, this breakthrough in capacity will allow the state to more fully implement universal testing and congregate care settings such as Nursing Homes, nursing facilities and shelters. And will enable the state to work with providers to conduct voluntary sentinel testing or spot checks on patients in different parts of the healthcare system. The expansion of testing also crucial to our gradual restarting of the economy, and its one of the four Guiding Principles in my vision for reopening maine that it articulated last week. With this additional capacity, maine cdc will better be able to gauge the prevalence of the virus throughout the state and that data intern will help inform the appropriateness of lifting certain restrictions safely and moving through various reopening stages. As a result of the new Testing Capacity, we do expect to update the plan to restart maines economy very soon. Even with this announcement however my administration will continue our efforts to secure more testing as part of our ongoing commitment to maines Public Health. For example, maine cdc under doctor shaws recently received testing supplies for another recently purchased testing platform which will further expand capacity. Additionally, i will continue to press the federal government to make sure Healthcare Providers in maine have an adequate and reliable supply of material such as swabs to collect samples from patients for testing. This is a game changer for maine and for our people. I know for some it may not seemed like a big deal, as lord knows a year ago if you told me i might get a little emotional over a new diagnostic test for some strange and novel virus i wouldve thought that was pretty odd. Today, in very different times, we welcome good news in any form and in any way it comes to us. And today, with partnership with a maine based company, this is very good news. The other day, a retired air force Lieutenant Colonel sent me a quote he said, in the midst of winter i finally learned there was indeed an invincible summer. Thank you katie for that note. And as we move along through an anxious spring anticipating better seasons to come, i would paraphrase and say in the midst of our long winter, the people of maine and the people of our nation found within themselves and invincible summer so behalf of this administration on behalf of the 1. 3 Million People of maine, i think id ask for their ingenuity, their generosity, and their new partnership with us. Acts like this demonstrate to us the heart of maines extraordinary companies and the power of publicprivate collaboration. Our state is grateful. Thank you and i would like to turn this over to doctor shah for his breathing. Thank you so much governor mills. Good morning everyone, i am doctor shah the state of maine director of Disease Control and prevention. Governor mills and i are joined with the department of health and human services. The governor mentioned we are here to announce good news today. The form of new testing made available by our colleagues that id expert i will talk more of it more about the testing and the ways in which that will enhance our Public Health response to the coronavirus situation. But first i like to review some of the latest data about that outbreak. Overall in maine, there are now 1330 cases of coronavirus confirmed across the state. That is a significant increase of 76 cases since yesterday. As we have talked about for the last few days however, that increase includes a number of tests that have been conducted over the past three and a half days by our colleagues at tyson foods in portland overall, those 76 new cases include a total of 39 cases that were the result of our recommended universal testing at the tyson facility in portland. In addition, the 76 cases also include 13 cases in total at the spring brook nursing facility as well. Twelve residents and one staff member there have tested positive for covid19. In general, of that 1330 cases, 1231, have been Laboratory Confirmed and 99 remain probable. Overall, there have been 192 main people who been hospitalized with covid19. At present there are 39 who are hospitalized. Sixteen of whom are in the intensive care unit and 11 of whom are on ventilators. Overall there have been 62 individuals who have passed away with covid19. And 787 who have now recovered. Of those 1330 cases, 286 have been among healthcare workers, again as i noted of that new set of cases today of 76, a total of 52 of those cases are associated with two outbreaks, one at the tyson facility, the other the springbrook facility for this increase in cases has been anticipated for several days now as i have reported, given the nature of the facility level outbreaks piercing across the state, we do continue to expect to finding more cases within longterm care facilities and other congregate living facility settings across the state. I would like to provide a quick update on the tyson situation as it stands right now, over all their been 51 cases that have been found at the tyson facility as a result of our recommendation to proceed with universal testing. Of those 51 cases include primarily employees, a few individuals who are contractors at the facility. As we always do in situations like this, maine cdc epidemiologist have been and are continuing to reach out to each and every one of the individuals who have been confirmed positive to provide them guidance on how to stay safe, during their period of isolation and checking with them to see if there other healthcare or social needs they may require in order to stay safe and healthy. The facility has completed its deep cleaning process and as we have been reported to us by the facility, they have begun the process of reopening and today are operating at one quarter capacity and will continue to reevaluate their operations on a daily basis. At the Spring Brook Center where i discussed it outbreak we had just been notified of yesterday, i mentioned we mentioned we are aware of 13 cases that are result of universal testing maine cdc tested at that facility. The testing is almost complete, there are still five cases that remain pending. But of all of the test done, nearly 300, total of 13 individuals have come back as testing positive we will of course continue to work with the facility to provide them guidance on proper Infection Control practices and are in the process of sending them an emergency ppe for their healthcare workers to make sure they can stay safe. The other day, i mentioned maine cdc had started to receive shipments of swabs, viral transport media from the federal government. We received an initial set of 4000 swabs and anticipate receiving more and more swabs on a weekly basis for the forthcoming several weeks. We are also receiving transport media, this is the gel the swabs are tasted one after theyve been swabs in the materials being transported to the lab and augusta. What maine cdc is planning on doing, is starting the process of distributing those swabs, to Healthcare Facilities across the state. Namely hospitals as well as distributing viral transport media to those hospitals, this allows the hospitals and other facilities to make premade test kits they can be used very quickly to swabbed patients, put the swab and the transport media and send it up to our lab in augusta for Rapid Testing. We will begin deploying those swabs out in the very, very near future. I would finally like to provide a couple of pieces that insight from a Public Health perspective on the value of this new partnership governor mills just discussed with idexx. Among many things, the scientific benefit of todays partnership, is it allows us to access the vast sophisticated and local supply every agent from our colleagues at idexx. Is everyone who has been tuning into these briefings has heard, these reagents have been in short supply at a National Level. Cussing all states including maine to introduce tiered prioritization system at our laboratory here in augusta. The availability of these reagents which are critical part of the overall Chemical Reaction that testing relies upon, the availability of these reagents continues to be a significant constraint on all states abilities to increase testing. But todays announcement changes that. Todays announcement will allow maine cdc to work toward and very soon remove the tiered testing system that maine and all other states have had to implement. In fact, this announcement and the removal of that tiered testing system will actually make a main one of the First State Health department laboratories, if not the first to remove all criteria in all tiers on its testing system. Now is the governor mentioned, we are in the process of receiving the test, receiving the instruments needed to do the test, and there is still a ways to go before we are fully online. The instruments have to be installed, they have to be calibrated, they have to be validated, we have to pass our own proficiency testing requirements. Once all of those steps are undertaken, we will be able to after all of that is done, to announce in the near future we are removing the testing requirements for the main state laboratory in so doing will continue being in the vanguard of testing across the state. Whether it was moving toward including individuals from congregants care settings in our top priorities, or quickly moving towards recommending universal testing and congregate care settings, this latest news is further evident of the innovation and ingenuity that can help all of us in maine Work Together toward solving problems. It will put us closer to our goal of ensuring that every medical provider in maine, who wishes to obtain a test for any patient can do so without concern for availability. It will also allow us to continue being a leader on universal testing and congregate care setting such as Nursing Homes, group homes, and shelters for people experiencing homelessness. This public, private partnership between maine cdc, the state of maine government, and idexx will allow us to more than triple our Testing Capacity here in maine as the governor mentioned as well as return those results back to providers in a timely fashion. On a day when we have just reported 76 new cases, 52 of which are associated with large outbreaks, this breakthrough today with idexx underscores the need for expansive Testing Capacity within the state of maine which will allow maine cdc to continue rapidly responding to outbreaks across the state. I like to thank the governor, the commissioner and are colleagues that id ask for their months of work in partnership with maine and allow us to continue make that will allow us to continue looking forward and addressing the covid 19 challenge across the state. Thank you much everyone, will turn out to our colleagues in the media for some questions. Reporter todays first question goes to dustin from new england cable news. Go ahead. Reporter alright governor doctor shah i have a question for each of you started with the governor. What is the longterm plan with the Additional Data from the test . What i mean by that we eventually see universal testing in maine and then people in state being allowed to travel or do certain things based on test results. Those two things are compatible ideals, goals, and we will work towards reaching those types of goals. You say universal testing, do you meet everybody, all 1. 3 Million People in maine and everyone coming into maine . We are moving towards universal testing and facilities right now, that is our immediate goal. And yes, the advance capacity of testing will help us remove some of the restrictions on expanding our economy in a sooner timeframe. Reporter for doctor shockey talk a little about the sustainability of this platform and help makes it stand out among other states in the country questioning. Dustin asked about the sustainability of the platform and how that will continue keeping us at the front of the pack. Among the many benefits of this arrangement, the partnership is not so much their testing strategy is one that is been invalidated by the usda, its their ability to have a really deep bench and producing these reagents that have been in such short supply. The partnership with idexx means will be able to take advantage of their vast ability of their reagent and not have to rely solely on the federal government or other sources for reagent. We all know those reagents have been in high demand and thus in short supply. This announcement means we will have independent ability to work with idexx, to keep a steady stream of reagent. This is a first step. If we determine we need to continue eat increasing that supply of tests, you can discuss that with idexx, but todays first step more than tripling our overall capacity, gives us a steady stream of access to these necessary reagents and we hope that will continue to do so in the future. Thank you a lot. Will now turn to don carrigan at the new center. Reporter don may be walking his cat . [laughter] will be back in just a second turn next weight there is. His back. [laughter] sorry, star six. Reporter two questions one is for doctor shah and one for both the doctor the governor. The first is, is there a breakthrough with this test, is it a different type of test than you are currently doing as opposed to just allowing more of the chemical reagents . Ill ask that one first and then ill have a second what if thats okay. Ill be happy to feel that, in what ways does this test differ from the testing were doing . Don, it is a same type of test, its a type of test that looks for the genetic particles, the genetic materials from the virus that causes covid19 from that coronavirus. In that respect its a same type of test that we have been doing in our laboratories. Uses a slightly different equipment and thankfully our colleagues lent us one of their pieces of equipment, we independently acquired another of that same piece of equipment. Weve got two of the machines that are necessary for writing the test. That will allow us to keep a high group. One of the many scientific benefits is not so much its a new test, its the same type of test with a very strong supply chain of these necessary reagents. The other question viewer contacted me and suggested that the need to dramatically expand the amount of testing, is more of a manufacturing process issue than a Public Health went and suggested maybe maine would do well to hire a company with expertise in manufacturing and process to manage the whole testing procedure and to make it more efficient and get more of these through. Has that been thought about . With that possibly be a worthwhile change . Guest it sort of relates back to the abbott situation. A month ago abbott was quickly approved for Rapid Testing of this and the federal government then requisitioned had a purchase order, requisitioning most of their supply and then distributing them in a fashion that did not favor maine and other states that favored the hotspots for reasons that the government can explain weve been pressuring the federal government to prevent us from becoming a hotspot by supplying more of those tests to us and to other rural states. So manufacturing, theres a lot of entities manufacturing tests some of them are under the defense production act proclamation by the president , so under certain duties to manufacture certain amounts of testing paid for by the federal government and distributed by the federal government. I dont know that its a matter of manufacturing but having access and having access in maine to a product that is made here with a pretty quick turnaround so we are not transporting specimens out of state and having to wait for days for this test results to come back to us. Reporter governor five could interrupt quickly, i guess i misstated, this suggestion was to have a business with process expertise in maine manage the whole testing procedure. The flow, increase the efficiency of it. Im not sure . So i hear thats coming from john thats not inconsistent with anything going on right now theres multiple organizations in maine they can offer and conduct laboratory testing, lab core, another of other commercial labs are already working with doctors offices across the state to conduct lab testing, we also have a specific and unique role as a Public Health laboratories well. That role cannot be one that simply south outsource to someone else put our Public Health laboratory often does a mass testing and situations that other laboratories might not. For example in shelters for people experiencing homelessness, thats what is really important for us to make sure we had as robust a capability as possible within our statelevel laboratory within our state, to be able to run those tests and situations. Whether they be homeless shelters, Nursing Homes at a mass level to try to get a handle on the situation. Im going to turn next to Caitlin Andrews over at the bdm. Good morning, thank you for hosting the call. I have one question for the governor and one question for doctor shah. Governor cometh like we touched on this earlier i just want to circle back and ask again how the idexx Testing Partnership factors in with visitors coming into maine which commissioner johnson and other states such as vermonts set its a way to get around some of the lodging restrictions. So at the step in the right direction. As i said, the four principles of us gradually safely reopen the economy include protecting Public Health, maintaining healthcare readiness, tilting reliable and accessible testing, and prioritizing public, private collaboration. We are now doing all of those four things, or dressing all four parts of the puzzle here in moving our economy forward. We will be able to adjust our expectations, just our timeline and protocol accordingly. I cannot give you specifics more than that today. I think we will be able to make some announcement shortly. Thank you. My second question, its no secret theres been a national decline in Public Health spending over the last decade or so. I want to ask if you believe that has touched our maine state labs to prepare for the pandemic . I also want to ask if additions to the most recent announcement what is the cdc done to increase the Testing Capacity quickly and terms of improving the facilities. So im going to ask the professor to handle these so i will handle the hiring on the hiring piece, it takes a lot to conduct testing at a high level quickly entering the results around. Having these new supply reagents and machines come another piece of that is making sure weve got the right number of staff to turn around and keep the level high. That something we have been working on for several weeks, were continuing to work on it now, especially with the edition of a higher and steadier stream of reagents for going to continue expanding the number of Staff Members, laboratory who can run these tests to keep results coming in. Or continuing to work on that. I will just add we have been working on improving our Public Health capacity in the state of maine since governor mills took office. Starting within the most recent supplemental budget we have a 1 million for the maine cdc which will be available as july 1. Weve got 11 million in working capital fund that we can put towards different coronavirus related activity. And then the federal government had in several of its bills, included funding for the maine cdc which we have used for several activities. When his staff, not just staff or the lab it to improve our Public Health nursing cord to make sure they can help with all the activities we are doing. To begin to hire contact tracers so we can really, once we identify somebody who is confirmed begin to make sure their self isolating, their contacts are contacted. And they have support they need. Were also looking at supplies for testing kits, the lab equipment, the space, i will say only went into this spring, as early as march, we began discussions with also talk to how these are to pass a lab capacityvalidate their test and work for them on the agreement we announced today with the donated test kits. We will purchase enough reagent, to continue to triple the public lab capacity and continue, do we need to do more . Were constantly trying to use what is happening recently, not just to risk on but to strengthen cdc for the longterm. So thanks caitlin. So is a followup to see this testing expansionist anyway to move towards universal testing in jails and prisons . Caitlin asked if we would move towards universal testing in jails and prisons, governor arm happy to feel that one. Randy liberty has been on top of this and reporting back faithfully to date we have not seen with the outbreak in a jails or prisons i know positive tests. So yep exactly will turn out to the main beacon. Reporter thank you, i have a question about governor mills its a little bit out of left field and it is related to the program that went into release program so im sorry what was that so the Housing Authority reported last week that all 800 renters had received support from the program so far. Many renters we have spoken to, have said they do not know about the program. I am just curious if the state is planning any public targeted Education Campaign to make renters aware of that program . Guests. First of all our figures are a lot higher i did not bring them with me today. I know about half of the money allocated to the program has been spent. Whether everybodys taking advantage of it or not, they should be able to take advantage of it. The local cap agencies are partly responsible for outreach and main housing. Weve been talking to them about getting the word out more widely. We have had good response on that program though. Ive had some landlords say, i would love to set the money but im just going to forgive it for the rest of this month because im part of the solution to the problem. Weve had other renters say they dont want to take the rent money because whatever, they dont want it. But those who need it should take advantage of it. Its not a lot of money, but its what it is and what we can do, for now to get people through this tough. And over the hump. Thanks care will turn to steve over at maine public. Going on steve . Reporter i have several very quick questions i think. And thank you. How much is the cost of the state for this partnership is the first one. And if so is any that by the feds . Any of the Disaster Relief bills that have been passed . The other question i have is how many tests can be performed at a time . How does that compare to what the state lab is doing now with its testing. In the last question. Wait wait wait slowdown. Can we answer the first 21st . Asked the commissioner to weigh in on the cost issue as well. We are committed to being partners, not just in accepting the donated test kits but to pay for them. Again given the city supply chain. So we have a contract with idexx for about 720,000. Which again, is enough for at least 5000. Month for several months. We continue to look at how do we break down the proverbial wall of the lab with limitations to see if we can do more. That is coming from the Coronavirus Relief fund which was provided by congress through the department of treasury for purposes like this. It was one 100 federal funding. Steve your second question was out the daily throughput . So right now are daily maximum capacity, is right around 300 tests. Day. That has been, governed largely by the availability of reagents. The fact that we had a limited number of these extractors you and i have talked about that you have written about. We now have two additional extractors. One, both of which are made by a Company Called thermo fisher. They are called king fishers. We purchased one in italics was generous enough to lend us one. We now have two additional extractors. That, coupled with a very robust supply chain every agent puts our daily throughput a lot closer to about 700. Day. And had a third question . Reporter i did im sorry. I just want to build off what caitlin had asked about staffing. To have a sense of how many people will be needed to help perform these tasks at cdc . Do you have enough to get you ramped up now . Or do you need to actually hire more people to sort of complete the ramp up . Its a little bit of both. Really, the biggest variable, the biggest constraint on increasing our throughput, was having more of these extractors, to kingfishers i mentioned in the reagents to run them. We do however want to make sure we can keep that up. We do not want, for example our lab staff, has been working seven days a week since march. Most of our lab staff is not had a single day off. Its not that i would like to do business its not the way to do business is just not that way its not the organization and avis want to be running. Were looking to hire additional Staff Members as well as the actual running of the samples, the intake is called a session in the running requires skills, Laboratory Technologies or looking to hire additional folks keep our staff fresh because we know this process is going to take several several months. Thats great thank you. Were going to turn out to michael over the edge. Reporter ive questions for both of you. Commissioner said yesterday the department was largely unprepared for the epidemic response and had to Rework Technology issues move to remote practically overnight. Window planning for the actual shutdown begin . How is that the Department Level . Looking ahead with cdc and state operations standpoint, what hasnt worked . Therell be plenty of time for monday morning quarterbacking and i am not going to engage in that now. Working every hour and how we can protect the people of maine. These are never easy decisions with the task force on march 2, 67 days ago and they have been working every day sometimes day and night to devise new methods for getting done what State Government has to do, helping communities across the state, listening to thousands of people, businesses, municipalities and Interest Groups from all over the state reflecting on what they have proposed and what they have observed and responding in kind and making the best decisions we can in every department. This is not a Single Department by department, its a team of people who i am very proud of, from commissioner lambert, commissioner johnson, commissioner liberty in so many others. I think weve got the best people working on this right now. I am very proud of his cabinet, and all of the members of State Government and state employees who have worked so hard with more than 80 of them working from home right now. Theyre modeling the behavior and keeping our numbers low. Thank you. And doctor shah . Glad michael. Reporter how did you plan for the pandemic . At some point you had to see the data coming in from across the country and start making plans. How did you rampup to that . So in middecember, because of work id previously done, i done that and Southeast Asian earlier in my career, middecember started from contacts id had for a while started getting reports from them about a number that them and starting to spread in a central chinese city that didnt quite match up with any of the known viral pathogens. Some of my colleagues and i started emailing about that. I shared some of that informally with members of my team, some of the medical epidemiologist, and by january 1, when the World Health Organization declared when china notified the World Health Organization there is an outbreak on her hand, my team and i arty been up to speed all we came back after work after the new year we started meeting on a frequent basis look at the possibility of the virus spreads and what that would look like in maine. A few weeks after that we turned up the dial even more by activating our command system via diagnostics, starting to think about investigation, starting to think about case isolation. Those are the same things we are talking about here today. One of the key pieces throughout all of that has been diagnostics. That is why todays announcemen announcement, enabling us at the state level to more than triple our capacity to do testing inhouse, in the state with creek results this isnt something that just happened overnight thats a result of many months of anticipating several weeks of careful thoughtful discussion about the signs and implementation of this work. This isnt something that happens its a result of weeks upon weeks with planning and partnership its wayward delighted to be able to announce that today. Partly because of the cooperation of the people of maine and following the protocols and the restrictions people have been working on and living under for couple of months now. Good part because of the cooperation of maine people the excellent people we have heading up this task force. We have been successful, relatively speaking, relative to so many other states, most other states to date. We went to keep his figures low. Hewitt thanks michael were going to turn to amy brown. Reporter could use if this anything happening are not happening at tyson and the other places that have outbreaks so other businesses can learn from . Also had served any thought been given to opening a hotline or providing for those who feel they might be at risk in the workplace . Is a country itself is grappled with outbreaks, specifically those that meet a lot has been learned a couple of days ago the u. S. Cdc itself put out a new document around guidance and best practices for meats and poultry processing plants. We have discussed that document tyson and the colleagues there make sure theyre implementing all of the administrative and engineering controls, some involve things like making sure workers are facing the same direction on the line, rather than facetoface with each other which reduces the likelihood of transmission. Others involves making sure the right cleaning steps are being taken. So there has been a lot that has been learned, u. S. Cdcs but that document on the website, i would encourage any owner or operator of the facility, whether its meat or poultry processing plants, or any other type of Industrial Facility to take a look at that. Many of the controls are applicable in the industrial setting, not just those involving food processing. As to the latter question. With respect to the hotline of some sort we are relying on local Law Enforcement to some extent because violation of protocol, violation executive orders are in a workplace, or another public setting or otherwise they are both potential criminal violations and licensing violations. Maybe acted upon accordingly we are relying on, in good part Law Enforcement locally to take measures to protect workers and protect the public by enforcing the rules and protocols. If theres a recourse in that local arena, people are free to call the state police, Public Safety call or email given the email may be a Public Document though, that a couple of people call and make known from the parent violations, we can address those by responding with Law Enforcement or licensing personnel. Reporter are there any protections that case like someone whos working say at a Grocery Store clerk getting in trouble with their employer . There are provisions in title 26 i dont play it lawyer or plate give legal advice there is a whistleblower act thats been on 30 some years. That might be available to the person in that situation for this also the main human rights commission, is an ada issue or discrimination issue we may be able to be of assistance. Stomach thanks amy were going to turn over to joe at wt mw. Reporter thank you both for your time, the twopart question for doctor shah, can you talk a little bit about the Distribution System for the testing, as the supply starts to increase all patients expect their healthcare facility may have one, or will they have to request that . Will they be preemptively sent to areas were more cases are starting to be seen . Secondarily should be expect to see a spike in cases and increase of case related to the larger sample size from just the expanded testing as the weeks and months go long . Jarman to take those in reverse order. First question question is whether we might see more cases as a result of mark hasting now that we have a more than a triple capacity. And the answer is it could be. One of the public things and life when you go out looking for things you often find them. This is a situation where we want to go out and look for things. We want to look under every stone possible. To see if there is someone who might have coronavirus especially on high risk settings and congregants care settings. Because of increased capacity more than triple now, at the state level, there will be more testing that is done, thats what we hope. Because of that we may see more cases. When i would throw on top of that, just as important to look at the number of new cases but the rate at which those are positive for the positivity rate. We also want is for that rate to go down. Because that is evidence that more and more tests are being done, which is evident the net we are casting, the liquid taking at the state is getting whiter, whiter, and wider. You also asked about the distribution of the test, joe, this is a good question im glad you raised it. The decision of which laboratory to send any patient sample two, is ultimately one made up by the doctor, her clinic or hospital. Maine cdc offers this test but physicians might opt to send their specimens to their own Hospitals Laboratory or laboratory run by lab core others bird were offering the test who so wishes to use it once we got to the validation process. Its not that were sending tess out, providers send samples to us. Just like they would with any other test offered by any other laboratory. Were going to turn out to eric russell over at the press herald. Reporter good afternoon, thank you for taking the time. Very quick question for doctor shah, would you go back to test the probable cases to get a confirmation earlier not bother . Airgas about probable cases. There is the decision to test anyone who has been deemed a probable gaze lies with his or her physician. Physicians have opted to test certain of the probable folks and have been confirmed and there moved into the confirmed category. Fundamentally that decision of whether to test somebody really lies with the physician. Some physicians and medical groups have said if you are healthy, you are at home, youre safe, youre doing fine. This really no need to test you. Part of the reason for that is when someone is home and are presumed to have coronavirus, they are supposed to stay home. So testing them are asking them to be tested might entail them leaving their house, and potentially exposing other people. That is a delicate balance, thats why physicians are the ones who ultimately work with the patients to jointly in concert with one another, make the decision whether to get tested, or if they are doing well its fine to stay home. Reporter the other question i have is a little bit of a followup to joes question. Given it seems very likely does it increase the number of confirmed cases as we get more testing on mine, which is good news because you said you want to find out new cases, how do you decide when you open the economy . Is that the percentage you talked about . Is it recovered cases . Recovered cases how to use his new expanded data to use decisions on how to reopen parts of the economy. Eric asks i will repeat the question and governor will turn over to you. Eric asks about in light of the fact that we may see an increased number of cases because we are looking under every rock, we are looking under every nook and cranny to look for cases, how does that impacted intersect with our desire to move towards reopen . I think theres a balancing act going on what we announced last week with doctor shah articulated with several part test. Testing capacity is critical. So is looking at the data on new hospitalizations. And new cases of influenza type symptoms. All of those medical criteria are in play here. Not one above all the others, they are all equally as important. Those are the metrics will be massaging in the next few days and weeks to see where we are going with this, and to see how we can look at regions and how we can look at different entities and whether or not we can minimize the spread of the virus given there will be higher numbers of cases though not necessary symptomatic or hospitalization cases. Weve got how many people in icu right now . I think 16. In icu. Thats the kind of thing we want to prevent. So thanks eric. We are going to turn now to joe from abc seven. Thank you for taking my question it was a little premature redoing with children and mysterious disease very similar to kawasaki disease with the maine cdc, the first questions for doctor shah, has the maine cdc and Governor Mills Office states to plan of reopening day camps last question i have do have any cases on notes difficult to talk about two to 15 years old that we have any intensive care units around the state . Ill take the first and third question, governor thats alright. I will answer those really quickly purred so yes, joe, we are aware of reports that of come out of new york city around younger patients have some type of illness that resembles another illness that children have been diagnosed with. We referred to it as kawasaki disease. We discuss that issue this morning with our pediatricians who are working with that. We are not aware of those reports account to maine cdc, theres actually discussion happening tomorrow with members of the Pediatric Community to alert them of this finding and see if they have seen it in any cases in maine. Right now what i can tell you, joe, and the age group you mentioned two to 15, there are no children who are currently hospitalized in intensive care or regular beds for covid19 regarding summer camps overnight or day camps they provide so much happiness in the summer for some eight thousands of children and young people. Were working on that. Commissioner johnsons working along with others of the industry to see if we can safely allow them to reopen in some capacity at some degree. Sorta like opening up dormitories in the fathers different protocols for different sectors of the economy. Or working on that and cannot make any promises yet, we are hopeful. The governor really does underscore why having this is to the extent theres medical care providers out there who are carrying for probable cases does not have a lead of availability, we really do hope the now robust availability at the state lab if a provider would otherwise have tested the patient. We hope this new capacity at the state lab tilts the balance thats what the provider wanted to do and underscoring the importance of todays announcement as to why testing is so important. So sorry i shouldve mentioned that. I shouldve chimed in on that organ of turnover to brad rogers. Okay, thanks very much. First i went to ask doctor shah, thats okay, is there an outbreak in the walmart in brunswick . Were getting information they tested positive for the virus nothing confirm theyll have you heard he think about that . Were not aware of an outbreak of that nature. We have course will be is our Contact Tracing process evolves, if we do get reports of individuals and that theyre all at the walmart it in any location or walmart or any location around the same time, that will be a signal for us to investigate more deeply. But right as of right now we have not observed anything of that nature. Is for you or the governor the federal cdc came out with guidelines to work toward reopening. Its been rejected by the trump administration. You guys have that documents, are you using that it all . You mean the cdc guidance of two weeks ago . Lets different guidance every the dam trying to keep on top of it. Im not sure what parts you believe a rejected by the federal government. Maybe you know more customer. Brad asked about recent cdc documents regarding reopening the cdc created was not so much a plan for reopening, but an update of models they had previously been undertaking at the National Level and all models to project potential scenarios of what might happen depending upon what certain conditions do or do not come through. As many are aware weve been undertaking our old modeling are exercises with the state we are aware of the cdc models as well, cannot speak for what happens with those and how they have been viewed or implemented. We are aware of them. So okay thanks. The last question for today goes to emily over at w abi. So thank you so much my question could be answered by governor mills or doctor shah. Ive two questions at first when you said many of the new tests be prioritized with care facilities just across the state, but the increased testing with the restrictions lifted on those things to see their loved ones again . Thats a good question, theres about 6800 people in longterm care facilities all across maine. Were very hopeful we will be able to test people in those facilities, pretty soon. And the staff of course. In terms of reopening homes you are inviting the virus to come in. As a Public Health matter, i will ask doctor shah to comment on that. Still a very dangerous situation. Thanks governor use the word there is no prioritization our doors will be open. As it relates to the nursing home specific its a challenge its across the country Nursing Homes the residents who live in them are family members are mothers or fathers are spouses, brothers, they are uniquely vulnerable to covid19. Need to keep them safe with covid19 with their need to be socializing interacting with their family. Thats going to be a careful balance is governed and driven by how we see the data evolving and what we see there. Thanks for that question thats last question. The reports of healthcare workers getting sick and others in the community. One of the things that make us excited today is to triple our capacity it may not seem exciting to a lot of people who dont pay as much attention as we are, but the Communications Last night he almost lost his trout on the line that is how exciting it is. We look forward to further progress and thank you to every one of you i hope you are as excited as we are and we keep yourself safe for everything you do every day. Thank you