Maryland Hits Record-Low Coronavirus Positivity Rate: Governor

Elizabeth Janney
Updated ·4 min read

MARYLAND — As Maryland confirms more than 120,000 cases of the coronavirus, state officials say there are reasons to be optimistic. The statewide positivity rate hit a record low Sunday, and so did two of Maryland's biggest jurisdictions, the Maryland Department of Health reported.

The coronavirus positivity rate is 2.85 percent Sunday in Maryland on a rolling seven-day average, officials said.

Baltimore County is at 2.31 percent, while Baltimore City hit a 1.56 percent positivity rate, according to state health authorities.

Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.

After 412 cases were added to the state's total, Maryland is reporting 120,156 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Sunday. With three deaths added, authorities say there have been 3,735 deaths statewide attributed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, since the pandemic began in March.

As the

Restaurants in Maryland may increase indoor dining capacity starting Monday.

Indoor operations may increase from 50 to 75 percent capacity, effective at 5 p.m., by order of Gov. Larry Hogan.

However, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Montgomery County and Prince George's County remain under tighter restrictions than the rest of Maryland.

For governments to reopen safely while reducing the chance of coronavirus transmission, the World Health Organization advised positivity rates should fall below 5 percent over two weeks.

While Maryland health officials report a 2.85 percent positivity rate as of Sunday, Johns Hopkins shows the state has a 4.9 positivity rate as of Saturday, Sept. 19. Hopkins calculates positivity by looking at the number of positive test results divided by the number of people tested. In contrast, the Maryland Department of Health uses positive tests divided by overall tests administered. There is also a time difference in data collection.

By state health department calculations, Cecil County is the only Maryland jurisdiction above 5 percent positivity Sunday. It has reported a 5.19 percent positivity rate over the past seven days.

"These latest numbers suggest that COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the community," Cecil County Health Officer Lauren Levy said in a statement Thursday, upon noting an uptick in cases and positivity from August to September. "Please continue to do what is needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect friends and family – wear a mask whenever you leave the house, practice social distancing, and avoid large gatherings. These steps are critically important."

Cecil County Health officials also advised people to wash their hands frequently, avoid touching their faces with unwashed hands and self-isolating when sick. While waiting for coronavirus test results, people should also stay at home, authorities say.

People can get tested at more than 200 sites statewide.

Here are the record-low positivity and hospitalization rates Hogan touted Sunday:

Positivity

  • Statewide positivity rate drops below 3 percent for first time, at record-low 2.85 percent.

  • Baltimore City and Baltimore County hit record-low positivity rates at 1.56 and 2.31 percent, respectively.

  • Daily statewide positivity rate is below 2 percent for first time, at record-low 1.89 percent.

  • Statewide positivity rate has been under 5 percent for 87 days, since June 25.

  • The only jurisdiction above 5 percent positivity Sunday is Cecil County, at 5.19 percent.

  • Sixteen jurisdictions of the state's 24 have positivity rates below 3.5 percent.

Hospitalizations

  • ICU beds are at 68, below 70 for first time since March and the lowest since March 26.

  • Usage of ICU beds for coronavirus is down 56 percent since July 25.

  • Hospitalizations are at 281, below 300 for first time since March 30.

Testing

  • Maryland has conducted more than 2.39 million tests for the coronavirus.

  • The Baltimore Convention Center testing site set a state record for walk-up testing recently by conducting 1,299 tests in a single-session on Sept. 11.

  • There are more than 200 sites to get tested for the virus. Find the nearest testing site.

See Also:

Coronavirus Data In Maryland For Sunday, Sept. 20

Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
Courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.

This article originally appeared on the Bel Air Patch