Joe Lawlor

Press Herald

Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people. He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.

Latest

Published
March 7, 2022

COVID-19 hospitalizations at lowest level since August

Mask mandates are going away as pandemic conditions improve.
Published
March 6, 2022

The pandemic effect: Personal stories of change

So much has changed during the two years since the COVID-19 pandemic officially reached Maine on March 12, 2020. And many of those changes will last far after the pandemic ends. Some are permanent. More than 2,100 Maine families and communities have lost loved ones. Businesses have closed. Careers have ended. Some who survived the […]
Published
March 6, 2022

‘A little different, a little broken’: How COVID-19 has changed us

Much as changed in the two years since COVID-19 arrived in Maine, and some changes will be permanent
Published
March 1, 2022

Mills administration to announce new guidelines for school masking on Wednesday

The state reports more indications of steep declines in COVID-19 in Maine, but state officials have yet to lift an indoor mask recommendation for schools.
Published
February 28, 2022

New version of omicron detected in Maine as wastewater tests show steep decline in COVID-19

Portland’s wastewater plants show declines of 98% and 97% since early January.
Published
February 24, 2022

Maine’s pandemic death toll passes 2,000 while COVID hospitalizations drop to 4-month low

As Maine hospitalizations drop below 200 patients for the first time since October, the state reports 53 additional deaths from a review of vital records.
Published
February 24, 2022

Maine Med emergency department nurses to protest ‘workplace violence’

A union official says, ‘They have been kicked, hit, spit upon and concussed at the hands of patients.’
Published
February 23, 2022

Pressure eases on Maine hospitals as patient counts continue to drop

Hospitals are beginning to ease pandemic restrictions, and South Portland and Brunswick rescinded indoor mask mandates this week.
Published
February 22, 2022

Wastewater tests show COVID-19’s continuing decline in Maine

COVID-19 hospitalizations also are down, more than 50% since the January peak.
Published
February 18, 2022

Positive COVID-19 tests in Maine down by 80% from January peak

Despite continued signs that the virus surge is easing, Maine reported 27 COVID-19 deaths on Friday.