MD Coronavirus: 723 Deaths; 16,616 Confirmed Cases

MARYLAND — Officials say 1,425 people are currently hospitalized in Maryland with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

So far, 723 people have died from the virus in Maryland, up from 680 the day before. Lab results are pending for 75 others who officials suspect died from the virus.

Friday morning's update from the Maryland Department of Health shows 16,616 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, up 879 in the past day. The numbers are expected to increase as testing ramps up across the state, one of the elements Gov. Larry Hogan has said was key for the state to recover.

So far, the Maryland Department of Health is reporting 68,100 negative test results for the virus.

Here are the ZIP codes with the most cases of the new coronavirus, according to authorities:

1. 350 cases in 20783 ZIP code (Prince George's County)
2. 308 cases in 21215 ZIP code (Baltimore City)
3. 286 cases in 20906 ZIP code (Montgomery County)
4. 278 cases in 20904 ZIP code (Montgomery County)
5. 277 cases in 20706 ZIP code (Prince George's County)
6. 244 cases in 20902 ZIP code (Montgomery County)
7. 231 cases in 20784 ZIP code (Prince George's County)
8. 212 cases in 20785 ZIP code (Prince George's County)
9. 201 cases in 21703 ZIP code (Frederick County)
10. 200 cases in 20744 ZIP code (Prince George's County)

Hogan, who is expected to release his plan for Maryland's recovery from the new coronavirus Friday, has said he will be looking at several criteria in assessing the state's readiness to reopen: the number of hospitalizations, ICU and acute care patients and deaths from the illness. Numbers must trend down over a 14-day period, he said.

As of Friday morning, acute care patients and the number of deaths per day are down from day to day, while in the past 24 hours intensive care and hospitalizations have increased.

Here is the data since the state began providing that information earlier this week:

The number of hospitalizations — meaning those currently in the hospital with COVID-19 — had been going down for the past three days, but it increased in the past 24 hours by 20 people.

Acute care patients, however, have decreased every day this week.

After a dip in ICU patients from Wednesday to Thursday, the number of those in the ICU increased by 32 in the past day, according to the data released Friday morning.

Deaths have slowed, from 47 in one day and 49 in another day earlier in the week to 42 in the past day, as of Friday morning.

On Thursday the state marked a milestone, with more than 1,000 people having been released from isolation due to the virus since it was first discovered in the state March 5.

In the past day, officials said 68 people were released from isolation bringing the total to 1,108 Marylanders who have recovered from COVID-19.

For the latest developments on the coronavirus in Maryland, get Patch news alerts.

Hogan is hosting a news conference at 3 p.m. Friday, April 24, where he is expected to announce his plan for reopening the state.

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Jurisdiction

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Age And Gender

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Race And Ethnicity

To slow the transmission of the virus, face coverings are now required in retail establishments and on public transportation in Maryland. Those who are younger than 9 years old don't have to wear them in retail environments but are encouraged to do so if they are older than 2.

The Maryland Department of Health and local health departments have opened testing sites at these locations, which require a doctor's order and an appointment:

• Annapolis — Parole Health Center
• Anne Arundel County — Glen Burnie VEIP Station
• Baltimore City — Pimlico Race Course
• Baltimore City — Rawlings Conservatory at Druid Hill Park
• Baltimore County — Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium
• Charles County — Waldorf VEIP Station
• Harford County — Forest Hill VEIP Station
• Montgomery County — Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center
• Montgomery County — White Oak VEIP Station
• Prince George's County — FedEx Field in Landover

Three sites above were added this week — the Parole walk-up testing initiative opened Monday, while the Rawlings Conservatory site, which also allows walk-up testing, was announced Tuesday. The Wheaton drive-thru testing site opened Wednesday.

Next week, several others will come online, when Germantown, Owings Mills and Randallstown will open up testing centers.

Related:

• Barbershops, Salons Can Reopen For Essential Workers: MD Governor
• Nurse At Randallstown Facility Dies From Coronavirus: Report
• Coronavirus: Hogan Asked To Address Racial Disparities
• 4 Ways To Make Face Masks As New MD Order Takes Effect
• MD Buys 500K Coronavirus Tests From South Korea: Hogan