Coronavirus Hospitalizations Rise In Maryland, Case Rate Climbs

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland counted 630 coronavirus cases Thursday, bringing the state's total to 133,548 infections. The state also reported six more coronavirus-related deaths. The virus has killed 3,883 Marylanders to date.

The state's positivity rate has seen an uptick since it bottomed out at 2.54 percent on Sept. 24. The seven-day rolling average now sits at 3.08 percent. The weekly positivity rate topped out at 26.88 percent on April 17.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says jurisdictions should aim to keep their percent positivity below 5 percent. When an area achieves this goal, it is likely safe to start hybrid schooling, state health officials say.

Maryland has been beneath that benchmark since June 25, but two counties exceed the threshold. Prince George's County has a positivity rate of 5.38 percent, and Somerset County sits at 5.57 percent.

"State health officials continue to closely monitor trends in our critical health metrics," Hogan tweeted Thursday. "We are all in this together, and we need each and every Marylander to do their part to help slow the spread and keep our communities safe."

Maryland's hospitalizations have fluctuated in recent months. They hit an overall peak of 1,711 on April 30. After falling to a low of 385 on July 10, the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients spiked to 592 by Aug. 1.

Hospitalizations then marched down to a recent low of 290 on Sept. 21, but they are back on the rise. Maryland reported 412 coronavirus-related hospitalizations Thursday.

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The state also closely monitors an infections-per-capita metric called the case rate. This is the average number of new cases-per-day per 100,000 people over a rolling week.

The case rate maxed out at 18.03 on May 7 before plummeting to 5.6 on June 24. The lull didn't last long, as the case rate hopped to a recent high of 15.55 on July 31. Another downswing dropped the case rate to 7.63 on Sept. 26, but it is already back up to 9.74.

The Maryland Department of Health says it is likely safe to return to to expanded in-person instruction when the case rate dips beneath 5. Every jurisdiction in the state has at least some students in school buildings, but virtual learning is still the norm for many Maryland students.

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• Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan

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