County's Rate Of Cases At Highest Level Since Start Of Pandemic

BETHESDA, MD — Montgomery County added 262 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, according to data published by the Maryland Department of Health, the 10th day this month that newly reported infections have eclipsed 200.

Wednesday's addition pushes the countywide total to 29,833 cases.

The number of cases per 100,000 residents has hit 25.3 — its highest level since the pandemic started in March. Ten is the threshold at which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers a region to be at high risk for coronavirus transmission.

Between June 17 and Oct. 13, the case rate hovered between 6.3 and 9.4 — which, by the county's standard — poses a moderate transmission risk.

Here's a closer look:

On Wednesday, the county recorded one new death linked to COVID-19. That pushes the local death toll to 875.

Forty-one others, health officials say, may have had the virus but died before ever getting tested. For now, they are considered "probable deaths." They won't be added to the official fatality count until they are confirmed by a lab test.

Across Maryland, there have been 171,823 coronavirus cases, 4,201 confirmed deaths, and 150 "probable deaths." Of the 1,144 patients being hospitalized for the disease statewide, 270 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).