MD Coronavirus Positivity Rate Tops 9 Percent

MARYLAND — The coronavirus positivity rate in Maryland has continued to increase since Dec. 27. It topped 9 percent Monday, according to the Maryland Department of Health, the first time it has hit that high since May.

On Dec. 1, the coronavirus positivity rate in the state was 7.52 percent on a rolling seven-day average.

Nearly five weeks later, the rate statewide is 9.47 percent — almost 2 percent higher.

The positivity rate, which shows the percentage of the tests that come back positive, should be at or below 5 percent for two weeks for an area to relax restrictions, the World Health Organization advises.

Gov. Larry Hogan will provide an update on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Watch on his Twitter, Facebook or YouTube accounts.

Get free news alerts from Maryland Patch.

Based on the plan Hogan previously announced, Maryland will prioritize vaccinating health care workers, nursing home residents, nursing home staff and first responders. After this phase, those who are at significantly higher risk of severe illness from the virus will be vaccinated.

Maryland began receiving its first shipments of the vaccine for COVID-19 on Dec. 14.

More than 65,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered as of Jan. 4, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Here's a look at coronavirus in Maryland as of Monday, Jan. 4:

Here are the latest coronavirus positivity rates by jurisdiction:

See Also:

• MD Coronavirus Cases Increase By Over 6K In First 2 Days Of 2021
• MD Extends Health Insurance Enrollment Period Due To COVID-19
• Montgomery County Tops 500 New COVID-19 Cases For The 7th Time Since March
• Hundreds Of Anne Arundel First Responders Get Coronavirus Vaccine