MD Led Nation In Hospital Admissions: White House Task Force

MARYLAND — Several records were set for coronavirus reporting in Maryland this week. Even before coronavirus-related hospitalizations reached an all-time high, federal authorities were concerned about the Free State.

Hospitalizations surged in Maryland following the Thanksgiving holiday, reaching a peak of 1,729 on Friday, Dec. 11, the third day in a row of record hospitalizations. They have since declined by 50, according to data reported Saturday and Sunday, and are now at 1,679.

Maryland, Arkansas and Oklahoma led the nation in new coronavirus-related hospital admissions per beds nationwide, according to the White House Coronavirus Task Force's Dec. 6 weekly report.

"We share the strong concern of Maryland's leaders that the current situation continues to be critical with more favorable outcomes dependent on the collective effort of Maryland's residents," said the report, obtained by the Center for Public Integrity.

"The population and health care system must do everything possible to limit further holiday-related disease surges and prevent overrunning hospital capacity and avoidable deaths."

On Saturday, the Maryland Department of Health confirmed a fourth person between 10 and 19 years old died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

While the vaccine is on the way, the task force said people needed to continue taking precautions.

"The imminent arrival of vaccines provides hope; however, large-scale benefits of lower deaths and hospitalizations will only come after months of immunization," the report said. "Difficult but temporary changes in personal behavior are key to limiting disease and death until we bring the pandemic to an end."

Messaging about curbing the disease earned praise for Gov. Larry Hogan, who was commended in the White House report for his "continued, personal communication on these measures."

Proactive testing of both residents and staff in nursing homes was one of the orders the governor announced Nov. 17, as a way to uncover the potentially asymptomatic people who are spreading the virus unknowingly.

Here is a look at Maryland's coronavirus data as of Sunday, Dec. 13:

See Also:

• MD Breaks Coronavirus Hospitalization Record 2 Days In A Row
• Vaccine Freezer Arrives At University of Maryland Medical Center