Washington County's COVID cases up 26.4%; Maryland cases fall 4.2%

Mike Stucka USA TODAY NETWORK
·4 min read
In 2020, the COVID pandemic cancelled graduations across the country. In Florida, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School came up with an alternative: a beach walk in their caps and gowns 6feet apart. The event was so popular, it is now a tradition the day before their actual graduation.
In 2020, the COVID pandemic cancelled graduations across the country. In Florida, Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School came up with an alternative: a beach walk in their caps and gowns 6feet apart. The event was so popular, it is now a tradition the day before their actual graduation.

Maryland reported 15,403 new cases of coronavirus in the week ending Sunday, down 4.2% from the previous week. The previous week had 16,083 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Maryland ranked 19th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 11.3% from the week before, with 702,236 cases reported. With 1.82% of the country's population, Maryland had 2.19% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, 32 states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Washington County reported 177 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 140 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 35,745 cases and 586 deaths.

Franklin County reported 309 cases and three deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 297 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 41,300 cases and 699 deaths.

Berkeley County reported 314 cases and four deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 249 cases and six deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 36,810 cases and 305 deaths.

Jefferson County reported 160 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 143 cases and one death. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 14,816 cases and 133 deaths.

Morgan County reported 41 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 23 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 4,371 cases and 69 deaths.

Fulton County reported 23 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 19 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 4,195 cases and 65 deaths.

Across Maryland, cases fell in 15 counties, with the best declines in Baltimore City County, with 1,630 cases from 1,879 a week earlier; in Baltimore County, with 1,844 cases from 2,069; and in Howard County, with 945 cases from 1,061.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Maryland ranked 11th among states in share of people receiving at least one shot, with 86.5% of its residents at least partially vaccinated. The national rate is 77.7%, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the most used in the United States, require two doses administered a few weeks apart.

In the week ending Wednesday, Maryland reported administering another 71,359 vaccine doses, including 9,126 first doses. In the previous week, the state administered 66,104 vaccine doses, including 7,355 first doses. In all, Maryland reported it has administered 12,078,243 total doses.

Within Maryland, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Montgomery County with 393 cases per 100,000 per week; Howard County with 290; and Charles County with 281. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Montgomery County, with 4,131 cases; Prince George's County, with 2,154 cases; and Baltimore County, with 1,844. Weekly case counts rose in nine counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Prince George's, Washington and St. Mary's counties.

In Maryland, 43 people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 31 people were reported dead.

A total of 1,083,424 people in Maryland have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 14,594 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 83,984,644 people have tested positive and 1,004,733 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

Maryland's COVID-19 hospital admissions falling

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, May 29.

Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

  • Last week: 1,508

  • The week before that: 1,725

  • Four weeks ago: 1,306

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

  • Last week: 55,952

  • The week before that: 52,036

  • Four weeks ago: 41,964

 

Hospitals in 34 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 33 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 35 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control. If you have questions about the data or the story, contact Mike Stucka at mstucka@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County reported 177 additional COVID-19 cases this week