With 16% Of MD Tested For Virus, State Hits Record-Low Positivity

BALTIMORE, MD — The positivity rate in Maryland is the lowest it has been since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to Gov. Larry Hogan. On Wednesday, the seven-day average positivity rate was 4.05 percent.

Since June 25, the state's positivity rate has been below 5 percent, Hogan said, a threshold that federal and global health experts recommend for reopening.

Despite declining positivity rates in central Maryland — Hogan said Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County and Prince George's County were all trending down — one pocket of the state is being monitored by state health officials.

Worcester County has been an outlier, with a positivity rate that has increased by 86 percent since Aug. 1, the governor said. On Wednesday the positivity rate for Worcester County was 6.43 percent, he said.

In an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, Ocean City, which is located in Worcester County, required face coverings for those on the boardwalk effective at 5 p.m. July 31, in alignment with Hogan's expanded masking order.

"We believed it was necessary at this time to be even more specific with regard to our Boardwalk and require face coverings at all times between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m.,” Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan said in a statement.

“Ocean City will continue to take the all actions necessary to keep our residents, staff and visitors safe," Meehan said. "We urge everyone to please also continue practicing physical distancing, avoiding large gatherings and take all the same precautions you take at home when you’re visiting Ocean City. Taking these actions seriously and practicing personal responsibility will help us move Ocean City and the rest of the state forward.”

There are 92,426 confirmed cases of the coronavirus as of Wednesday, an increase of 572 in the past day.

More than 3,400 people have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, across the state, the Maryland Department of Health reported.

Coronavirus In MD: A Snapshot

Coronavirus In Group Facilities

The Maryland Department of Health updates data on the number of residents who test positive for the virus s weekly on Wednesdays. This is the latest data from Wednesday, Aug. 5.

MD Coronavirus Cases By Jurisdiction

MD Coronavirus Cases By Age, Gender

Of the 572 new cases reported Wednesday, Hogan said 50.7 percent were people under age 40.

He said the positivity rate for Marylanders under 35 was 5.66 percent, compared with 3.26 percent positivity rate for those 35 and up.

MD Coronavirus Cases By Race, Ethnicity

See Also:

• MoCo's Coronavirus Positivity Rate Down More Than 91% Since April
• MD Coronavirus Cases Decline For Fourth Straight Day
• MD Adds Travel Advisory, Masking Order To Curb Coronavirus Spread