“The Delta variant is so much more contagious that it doesn’t need much kindling to continue to burn,” said Dora Anne Mills, chief health improvement officer at nonprofit health system MaineHealth.

New England leads the nation in Covid-19 inoculations, which health experts say provides a buffer against the virus. Nearly 69% of Maine’s total population of roughly 1.4 million is fully vaccinated, putting the state far ahead of the nation’s 56% full-vaccination rate for the entire population while trailing only Vermont and Connecticut…

Despite some signs of improvements at Maine hospitals this week, the facilities are under significant strain, said Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. He told reporters Wednesday that it was too soon to say the current surge is in retreat.

The state went from four people on ventilators at one point in July to more than 40 by mid-September. By Wednesday, the tally was 31, Dr. Shah said. Hospitals say a significant majority of ventilated patients are unvaccinated, according to the state.