Maine is reporting a sharp increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations Thursday with 1,555 additional cases and three more deaths. 

There are currently 436 people hospitalized with the virus in Maine, up from the previous peak of 413 reported Wednesday. One hundred and three people are in critical care and 53 are on ventilators. The state has 51 critical care beds available, including 10 for children.

The three people most recently reported to have died were all men. One was from Cumberland County and two from Kennebec County. One was in their 50s, one in their 70s and one over 80.

The rate of positive tests is also at a new high as of Thursday, at 23.8%. The state says the highly contagious omicron variant likely now accounts for the majority of cases in the state.