MD Coronavirus Deaths, Positivity Rate Tick Up As NYE Approaches

MARYLAND — In the past day, 63 deaths in Maryland have been attributed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to state health data.

That is the highest single-day increase in reported COVID-19 deaths in Maryland since May 12, when 74 deaths were confirmed.

The uptick in deaths follows what the nation's leading infectious disease expert said was a pattern.

"It staggers — you get cases, you get hospitalizations, and then you get deaths," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN Tuesday. "It's highly predictable that once you increase in those number of cases, in a staggered way, every couple of weeks, you get an increase in hospitalization."

To prevent the virus from spreading further, Fauci encouraged people to stay with those in their households for the New Year's Eve holiday.

As #COVID19 cases rise, the safest choice this #NewYear is staying home. Celebrate with the people you live with by watching a livestreamed firework display, concert, or other New Year’s programming from home. More tips: https://t.co/niAizr4HON. pic.twitter.com/nJrwMcZPvn
— CDC (@CDCgov) December 29, 2020

"The thing to do now is to try not to congregate with large numbers of people in social settings like dinners — try to keep it restricted to the immediate family in the immediate household," Fauci said. "What we're concerned about [is] that in addition to the surge, we're going to have an increase superimposed upon that surge, which could make January even worse than December," Fauci said. "I hope not, I hope that doesn't happen, but it certainly is possible."

The positivity rate for the virus in Maryland is 8.1 percent Tuesday, on a seven-day, rolling average, marking the first time it has broken 8 percent since Dec. 5.

Maryland's highest positivity rate is in Washington County, at 17.94 percent as of Dec. 28.

Any increase in cases and hospitalizations from the Christmas holiday is expected to occur in the coming days, according to Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa.

"Typically you might see that spike anywhere from five to 10 days post holiday," Dzirasa said at a news conference in Baltimore Monday, Dec. 28, when she said the city was averaging four deaths a day.

"We would certainly be looking ... 5 to 10 days post-Christmas, five to 10 days post New Year's," Dzirasa said, for the spike.

"Please continue to avoid social gatherings, wear your mask, wash your hands and practice social distancing," she said."I'm hopeful that we'll be able to protect our family and loved ones this holiday season."

Here is a look at Maryland's coronavirus numbers as of Tuesday, Dec. 29: