Like a biotech conference in Boston, a college bar in Michigan and a choir practice in Washington state, the wedding became whats known as a superspreading event probably sparked by a single, highly infectious individual who showed no signs of illness and unwittingly shared an enclosed space with many others. Even as he comes face to face with the consequences, the younger Dentremont said he is not angry with those who went forward with the wedding. "We know we cant let down our guard now," shesaid. Our windows are small. pic.twitter.com/lqLv9Qi1Eh. The reception was held at the Big Moose Inn. Shah said the spread from the wedding provides a glimpse of how quickly an outbreak can unfold. At one point, the rate was less than half a percentage point. Although Maine prohibited indoor gatherings of more than 50 people, 55 guests were in attendance. Davis, the town manager, said that he didnt want to criticize anybody, that he thinks people are now taking more precautions and that it happened, and were going to get through it. Huston said she is more concerned for the health of this town than I am for the blame., Dentremont Jr. is mourning his stepmother, a vivacious woman and wonderful mom who loved quilting and gave handmade tree skirts and coverlets as Christmas gifts. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Be a resource and a guide to our Maine entrepreneurs and business leaders today. We never expected to get COVID. The inns owner hasnt responded to multiple requests for comment. Its hard when you cant trust people, she added, especially because rural communities are so tightly knit and based on trust and relationships.. The brides parents joined his church at the beginning, back when meetings were held in the NAPA Auto Parts store. That has proved true in Millinocket, a close-knit town of about 4,500 once known for its thriving paper mill. But the growing number of cases related to the wedding, which exceeded the state's guidelines of 50 people or less at indoor gatherings, could undo some of that progress if it continues to swell. Due to our new system upgrade, we are requesting all existing users to update their password. Even 12 years after the mill closed, taking jobs and tax dollars with it, most people in town have some connection to it. At the time, Millinocket had not reported a single case of COVID-19. There are now 19 cases at the Maplecrest Rehabilitation and Living Center in Madison - eight among residents and 11 among staff. The Maine CDC says 41 of the 53 cases are confirmed at this time. The association, along with retailers and other related associations,has pushed since late spring to allow further opening, and stressed that restaurants and lodging establishments will follow guidelines to keep spreads, like the one in Millinocket, from occurring. They endangered a bunch of people.. we can share some photographs. Investigations are underway to determine if the additional cases associated with those outbreaks are also linked to the wedding and reception outbreak. RELATED: Maine CDC: COVID-19 outbreaks in Madison and York County are linked to Millinocket wedding/reception. In the kind of town where everyone knows everyone and many families go back generations, the viruss sudden hold has disrupted the usual sense of security and has made neighbors fearful of one another. There was a three-tier cake, a flower garland strung up by the entry and a crowd of about 65 family and friends gathered to celebrate Aug. 7 outside the rural town of Millinocket. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Should there be an annual coronavirus booster? Our time frame is tiny, Plourde says. Planning such anevent requires thoughtful attention and understanding. None of the seven who died had actually attended any part of the wedding. Maine health officials have also said a staff member from a Madison rehabilitation center, which is the site of four of the five deaths, attended the event. None of the victims who lost their lives had attended the party. Maine has reported less than 5,000 cases of the virus in total since March. Mills and Shah stressed that it's still important for people to wear masks, practice social distancing and stay home when they can, particularly if they don't feel well. Millinocket itself is just about smack in between the two, but a good 10 minutes or so away from each. Example video title will go here for this video. by. 1 rating. The markets bookkeeper, Viola DeWitt, said she had noticed an increase in the number of customers opting for curbside pickup in the past few days. The virus is where we are, then it comes home with us.". Maine COVID Wedding: Death Toll Grows to 7 - NECN In fact, my wife said, I didnt see anybody wearing a mask. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Vaccine questions, answered. On the one-year anniversary of pandemic lockdown, ELLE journeys to the center of the drama. The Maine CDC says at this time, the church outbreak investigation has not been epidemiologically linked to any other outbreak investigations. By clicking submit you are agreeing to our cookie usage and Privacy Policy, This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Super-spreading wedding party demonstrates COVID-19 risk posed by holiday gatherings. The outbreak also spread to workers homes, infecting 16 of their household contacts.. Hes asking that cards be sent to his father, who lived through the Great Depression and World War II, spent his career at the paper mill and has said he wants to celebrate his 100th birthday with a spaghetti dinner at the town hall. He hired a lawyer known nationally for defending the religious rights of churches. One person who tested positive and is linked to the outbreak had been hospitalized as of Wednesday afternoon, Peterson said. That indifference to public health guidelines appears to have played a key role in making the reception a super-spreading event, according to the report. First published on September 15, 2020 / 1:25 PM. It was positive. Its on-site restaurant, Frederickas, is named for her mother. Rich Zaker, who said he was staying at the inn Aug. 7, was alarmed at the sight of the wedding party. Not very much is known about the wedding itself, because nobody who went to it has talked to the media. The population has fallen by half, but with Maines highest peak as a backdrop, Millinockets natural beauty is a powerful draw for tourists and residents who remain. The statement said the church is taking precautions to limit the spread of the virus, and it will defend its right to continue holding services. The first death occurred on August 21, exactly two weeks after the wedding. Overnight, Millinocket Regional Hospital saw testing leap from an average of 20 to 25 per day to 100 per day. A pastor who said he officiated the ceremony defended it in social media posts, telling critics to know the facts before you draw conclusions. The pastor appeared to have locked down some of his social media accounts by the end of August, and the couples wedding page vanished from the Internet. When Shah broadcast that warning on July 30, Maine hadn't traced any outbreaks to house parties or large social gatherings, although that kind of transmission was happening in many other states. As you take in the details of the outbreak, imagine swapping Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas party for wedding reception and see whether it changes your thinking about your own holiday plans. It is your day! Attempts to interview the pastor, the couple and their families were unsuccessful. Maine. All of our cabins arefull service complete with linens and towels so your guests can have the comforts of ahotel in the unique setting of a romantic country cabin. The wedding outbreak is especially resonant in Americas rural communities, where gatherings are a lifeline and where, some public health experts fear, the lack of significant virus transmission may have lulled residents into a false sense of complacency. Fred. The rate remains well below the national average of about 5%, Shah said. Shah said the outbreak Maines first linked to a social gathering has raised thorny questions about enforcement as much of the nation returns to some level of activity. Her head spun when she heard about the wedding and the infections that followed. The church was originally started by a pastor named Todd Bell, whod arrived in the mill town in 1996, having been called to spread the gospel to the northern reaches. Sign up for the latest news, best stories and what they mean for you, plus answers to your questions. The community had fared better than many parts of the country as the pandemic raged, with Town Manager John Davis saying there were no cases in town before this. The closest confirmed infections were a town away. Cherith captioned the series the one where we got her married with sparkle emojis. If nearly all Americans would wear face masks when they leave their homes, they could save over 100,000 lives by the end of February, a study says. None of the people connected to the jail outbreak were hospitalized, and none died. It was a beautiful wedding," Pastor Bell said to his congregation. Stay safe and informed with our free Coronavirus Updates newsletter. Despite the outbreak, the church held normal services on Sunday. Formerly a staff writer and articles editor at Newsweek and The Daily Beast, shes currently a contributing editor at Down East Magazine. In the statement, the operators of Big Moose acknowledged they did make an error in the interpretation of the rules governing capacity. And Millinocket was thrown under the bus. Plourde says that in the weeks following the wedding, business in the town slowed down considerably. Your Photographer is one of the most important selections you will make on your day. Super-spreader wedding party shows COVID holiday dangers - Los Angeles Maine authorities have identified overlaps between the wedding reception and outbreaks elsewhere in the state. MILLINOCKET, Maine Of the 32 positive COVID-19 cases associated with a wedding reception in Millinocket, one has died, Millinocket Regional Hospital announced Friday. A couple traveled from California to Maine to get married at a church in East Millinocket. Maine's seven-day postivity rate among those tested is 0.74% compared to 7% nationwide. On September 1, with numbers rising in multiple counties as a result of the wedding held at the Tri Town church, Cherith Bell tweeted, Ive gotta say that even after a crazy week like this, the worst thing to happen to me is that I almost stepped on a snake yesterday while golfing. As for the bride and groom, they had returned to California. But when it comes to covid, it means that it can rip through a rural area like wildfire.. If you would like tobook the entire site for your wedding, we can accommodate that. By winter, the Millinocket wedding had basically become shorthand for a coronavirus superspreader event. Stories about COVID-19 that ran in local papers were sometimes accompanied by a photo of the Big Moose Inn Cabins & Campground for no other reason than that everyone associated the one with the other. (WGME) MILLINOCKET (WGME) -- The Maine CDC reported the number of cases. Maine news, sports, politics, election results, and obituaries. It was already shut down for the season, but there was a groundskeeper cleaning up leaves with a leaf blower. The son of Franklin Dentremont, 97, told the Boston Globe that the couple spent the evening of the wedding at their cabin on Cedar Lake and said they weren't taking any chances with their. 1st victim of Millinocket-area wedding outbreak remembered as the I officiated the wedding. The citation faulted the venue on three counts: allowing too many people to congregate, failing to implement measures to maintain six feet of distance between them and neglecting to get contact information about wedding guests. "Gone are the days when powering through the workday with a cold isthe heroic thing to do. Most everybody here thinks that. The sky changes throughout the day and the sunrises and sunsets can be stunning depending on the day. The investigation at the Maplecrest long-term-care facility turned up coronavirus infections in 24 of the 44 residents (thats 55%) and in 14 out of 76 staffers (thats 18%).