MD Coronavirus Hospitalizations Increase, Hogan Talks Recovery

MARYLAND — For the second day in a row, hospitalizations due to the new coronavirus have increased in Maryland, according to data from the state health department. The number of people being treated on the intensive care unit, or ICU, has remained the same.

Gov. Larry Hogan addressed Marylanders at 5 p.m. Wednesday regarding "Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery," which lays out guidelines for reopening the state. It was the first news conference Hogan has held on the topic after announcing he would be lifting the statewide stay-at-home order.

He announced the continued easing of restrictions.

See Also: MD Reopening Restaurants For Outdoor Dining, Stage 2 Nears

In the two weeks since the lifting of the statewide stay-at-home order, hospitalizations overall have gone down by more than 200 and more than 50 people are no longer in the ICU, according to data from the Maryland Department of Health. There have also been 576 deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, since May 13 in Maryland. Of those, more than 50 percent were in congregate living facilities.

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While Hogan declared Maryland ready for the first stage of reopening, he gave local leaders the flexibility to tailor plans for reopening for their jurisdictions.

Some jurisdictions have not entered the first stage of the recovery roadmap as of May 27.

Baltimore City as well as Charles, Montgomery and Prince George's counties remain under stay-at-home orders.

• Charles County will lift its stay-at-home order May 29.
• Prince George's County plans to reopen by June 1.
• Baltimore City has canceled events with more than 250 people through Aug. 31.
• Montgomery County has not set any date for reopening.

Positivity Rate Going Down

The positivity rate indicates how many people are testing positive out of the overall number of people tested for the virus.

After the governor announced several changes in Maryland's approach to coronavirus testing last week — testing of the asymptomatic was allowed and some retailers and pharmacists were authorized to administer tests — the positivity rate in the region is going down.

The overall positivity rate is 18.5 percent in Maryland as of Wednesday. It was 19.58 percent on Saturday.

Officials say 48,423 Marylanders have tested positive for the new coronavirus, an increase of 736 in the past day.

In Maryland 213,632 people have tested negative for the virus, authorities said Wednesday morning, an addition of 6,832 since Tuesday.

Of the 7,118 test results reported Wednesday, state health data shows 10.3 percent were positive.

See a list of testing sites in Maryland.

Hospitalizations Up, ICU Stays The Same

Statewide 1,338 people are hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Wednesday morning, an addition of 36 patients compared with the day before, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Admissions stayed flat on the intensive care unit day-to-day, with 520 patients being treated for the virus.

Officials say 2,270 Marylanders have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus; lab results are pending for 122 others as of Wednesday.

Coronavirus in Maryland: A Snapshot

Here is a look at Maryland's coronavirus numbers as of Wednesday, May 27:

Coronavirus At Group Living Facilities

Data about coronavirus at congregate living facilities is updated weekly on Wednesdays, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Of those who have the virus in Maryland, congregate living facility residents and staff account for 19.2 percent, based on Wednesday's data.

Of all COVID-19 deaths in Maryland, 56.8 percent are in congregate living facilities, data released Wednesday shows.

Here are the numbers as of Wednesday, May 27:

A week ago, the governor ordered universal testing at all state correctional and juvenile facilities.

Maryland has reportedly deployed teams to conduct universal testing for nursing home residents and staff as well as workers at the state's two poultry processing plants.

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Jurisdiction

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Age And Gender

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Race And Ethnicity

Coronavirus Symptoms

Symptoms of the new coronavirus can appear two to 14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which lists the following as possible indicators of the illness: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.

Health officials say most people with the virus will experience mild symptoms and can recover at home. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the CDC.

People should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if they have trouble breathing, bluish lips or face, new confusion or inability to arouse and/or persistent pain or pressure in the chest.

See Also:

• 3 Places To Test For Coronavirus, No Symptoms Needed: MD Health
• PG County Hospital Expands Ability To Treat Coronavirus
• 'Significant Virus Circulating Here': White House Expert On MD
• What MD Coronavirus Data Shows Over 4 Weeks
• Pharmacists Begin Coronavirus Testing, MD Death Toll Up