Maryland crossed the 1 million case mark on Friday. Meanwhile, COVID-19 health metrics continue to show signs of improvement, prompting state and local leaders to loosen mask restrictions.
State health officials newly reported 672 cases of coronavirus Friday, raising the total number of confirmed cases to date to 1,000,562 cases in Maryland.
The seven-day average positive test rate in Maryland fell below 3% on Monday for the first time since early November. It now sits at 2.78%, down from 3.3% last Friday, Feb. 18.
A total of 13,828 Marylanders are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, including 101 residents whose deaths were reported in the past seven days. There are also 263 people whose deaths are suspected to be related to coronavirus.
There are currently 459 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Maryland hospitals, down from 627 a week ago.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Friday that community transmission levels have been downgraded to “substantial” for the majority of Maryland’s jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, Prince George’s County’s transmission levels have fallen to “moderate.”
Levels of community transmission remain “high” in Baltimore City as well as Allegany, Caroline, Garrett and St. Mary’s counties.
Transmission levels are “substantial” in the remaining 18 jurisdictions: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester counties.
Of Marylanders age 5 and older, 90.1% have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
A total of 4,477,116 residents are fully vaccinated (after completing the initial doses of their vaccine).
The state has administered 2,155,338 booster shots to date, including 25,045 booster shots newly reported since this time last week.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced Thursday that he will lift the city’s indoor mask mandate on March 1.
Businesses will still be able to require staff and patrons to wear face masks on their premises.
And Baltimore City Health Commissioner said that while the mask requirement will be lifted come March, she is still encouraging residents to wear masks in crowded and/or poorly ventilated spaces.
Dzirasa also urged residents to get vaccinated and boosted, to get tested for COVID-19 if they are exhibiting symptoms or have been exposed to someone who is infected, and to quarantine if they test positive.
People can find a coronavirus vaccination site here and a COVID-19 testing site here.
Scott said he and other city leaders have not decided when and how to reopen city hall.
The Maryland State Board of Education on Tuesday rescinded a statewide mandate requiring the use of face masks in public schools, but the decision must still be approved by a legislative committee in the General Assembly.
The committee will meet Friday afternoon to discuss the recission of the school mask mandate.
