WCBC

June 5th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Governor Larry Hogan today announced that, after a series of testing expansions, the State of Maryland has surpassed the milestone of 400,000 COVID-19 tests. As the state prepares to enter Stage Two of reopening, Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate has dropped to 8.4% and total current hospitalizations have fallen to their lowest level since April 13.

This has been another week of significant progress on COVID-19 testing for the state. The governor announced on Wednesday that the clinical lab at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Institute for Genome Sciences is now fully operational and beginning to process tests. This signature, state-of-the-art lab will be the backbone of the state’s sustained testing strategy, pre-positioning the state for any second wave and the next flu season.

State officials continue to encourage Marylanders to get tested, and a no-cost, no-appointment testing site is open today at Six Flags America in Prince George’s County.

“As we pass the milestone of 400,000 tests, I want to thank all of our health care professionals and providers, scientists and lab technicians, state and local health officials, private sector partners including CVS Health, Rite Aid, and Walmart, and the Maryland National Guard for rising to the challenge of this unprecedented crisis,” said Governor Hogan. “We are and will continue to be much better positioned than most states when it comes to testing, and our strategic stockpile of tests and our successful long-term strategy will ensure that we have a strong and fully functioning supply of tests until such time as there is a vaccine.”

More than 405,000 COVID-19 Tests, 8.4% Positivity Rate. Maryland has now conducted 405,414 COVID-19 tests, including 13,210 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 more than 68%, down to 8.4% statewide⁠.