MILLINOCKET, Maine (WBZ NewsRadio) — A small remote wedding in Maine has become a perfect case study in how effectively the coronavirus travels, and how dramatically it affects communities where it gets a foothold.
On August 7th, 62 guests gathered for the happy occasion at the Big Moose Inn in Millinocket, and everyone had their temperatures taken prior to entering the reception.
But the next day, one guest started feeling ill. Three weeks later, 123 cases of COVID-19 have been traced to the wedding, and an 83-year-old woman who was not in attendance has died.
A nine-person outbreak in an elderly home 100 miles away, and a 54-person cluster in a jail more than 200 miles away have also been traced to the wedding.
At ground zero, where not long ago Millinocket and East Millinocket students were preparing for in-person classes this fall, schools now say they will be starting remotely.
WBZ NewsRadio's Kendall Buhl reports:
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