As of Friday, eight Maryland jurisdictions are experiencing substantial levels of coronavirus transmission while 16 are experiencing high transmission levels, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.
Since last Friday, coronavirus transmission levels have been downgraded from high to substantial in seven Maryland jurisdictions: Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Howard, Kent and Montgomery counties and Baltimore City.
Talbot County is also experiencing substantial coronavirus transmission levels, with their status remaining the same as a week ago.
The Maryland jurisdictions with high transmission levels are Allegany, Anne Arundel, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Washington, Wicomico, Worcester.
The CDC recommends that all people, regardless of vaccination status, wear a face mask indoors in areas of the country with substantial or high levels of coronavirus transmission.
Maryland has confirmed a total of 508,017 COVID-19 cases to date, while 4,012,367 residents have tested negative for coronavirus.
The state has recorded 6,982 new cases since Friday, Sept. 3.
Maryland has confirmed the coronavirus-related deaths of 9,915 residents to date, including 88 Marylanders whose COVID-related deaths were reported since Sept. 3.
There are currently 830 Marylanders hospitalized due to coronavirus, including 613 in acute care and 217 in intensive care.
This time last week, there were 812 Marylanders hospitalized with COVID-19.
Maryland’s seven-day average positivity rate currently sits at 4.67%.
As of Friday, 62.652% of Marylanders age 12 and older who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine are fully vaccinated with either a single-dose vaccine or both doses of a two-dose vaccine. Meanwhile, 68.732% of the eligible population have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
Of Marylanders age 18 or older, about 81.8% have received at least one dose.
President Joe Biden on Thursday afternoon announced that all federal government employees will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Health care workers and workers at companies with 100 or more employees will also be required to be vaccinated or be tested weekly for COVID-19.
The new vaccine requirements have already received pushback from GOP leaders, some of whom have vowed to file lawsuits over the rules.
Earlier in the day Thursday, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. announced that he will require all Baltimore County government employees to show proof of at least partial vaccination by Oct. 15 or apply for a waiver for medical or religious reasons. Those with an approved waiver will have to submit COVID-19 testing results weekly.
That comes after Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott announced in August that the city will require its employees to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18 or get a weekly COVID-19 test.
Gov. Larry Hogan on Wednesday also announced an expansion of COVID vaccine booster shots for older adults living in congregate settings, including nursing homes, assisted living centers, residential treatment centers and group homes for disabled individuals.
