WCBC

May 31st, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Governor Larry Hogan Saturday announced that Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 11.6%—its lowest level in more than two months—and current total hospitalizations have fallen to their lowest level in more than six weeks.
 
The governor also announced today that the state conducted 1,686 COVID-19 tests at Six Flags America on Friday—a record high for the state’s community-based sites.
 
“We started our first major testing site at FedEx Field in March with 100 tests, and since then, have increased our capacity exponentially in order to test hundreds of Marylanders in a matter of hours with no medical referral required,” said Governor Hogan. “We are encouraged to see so many residents take advantage of our new Six Flags testing site, and even more encouraged that as our long-term testing strategy progresses, our statewide positivity rate has fallen to its lowest level in more than two months and COVID-19 hospitalizations are at a six-week low.”
 
Maryland’s Positivity Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since March 29. Maryland has now conducted 339,361 COVID-19 tests, including 10,845 tests over the last 24 hours. The state’s positivity rate peaked on April 17, when it reached 26.91%. Since then, it has dropped by nearly 57%, down to 11.6% statewide⁠—its lowest level since March 29, when the statewide positivity rate was 11.3%.

The positivity rate in Baltimore City is down more than 60%, from a high of 27.38% on April 19, to 10.9% today. Baltimore County is at 11.2%, Frederick County is at 9.7%, and Howard County is at 8.8%—all below the state average.
 
The positivity rate in Anne Arundel County is down nearly 58%, from a high of 28.2% on April 16, to 11.9% today—just above the state average.
 
Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, while still above the rest of the state with respect to positivity, continue to see steady decreases. The positivity rate in Prince George’s County has dropped by more than 58%, from a high of 41.96% to a current rate of 17.5%. Montgomery County has dropped by more than 57%, from a high of 32.64% to a current rate of 13.9%.
 
Positivity rate data for the state and all 24 jurisdictions is available at coronavirus.maryland.gov.
 
Total COVID-19 Hospitalizations Drop to Lowest Level Since April 17. Maryland’s current total COVID-19 hospitalizations—one of the state’s key recovery metrics—have dropped to 1,239, their lowest level in more than six weeks.
 
More Than 3,000 Tests at State Sites in Prince George’s County. Over the last week, the state has conducted more than 3,000 tests at state-operated community-based sites in Prince George’s County.
 
Nearly 100 Testing Sites in Maryland. With expanded capacity and supplies available, the state has broadened the criteria for COVID-19 testing to include those who are asymptomatic. There are now nearly 100 major testing sites in Maryland. Visit coronavirus.maryland.gov to find a location that is most convenient for you.
 
Long-Term Strategy. On April 29, Governor Hogan announced a long-term testing strategy for Maryland, starting with high-priority clusters and outbreaks. The state achieved its short-term goal of 10,000 tests per day before June 1.