Omicron Cases Explode In Maryland: See Latest CDC Data

MARYLAND — The omicron variant has overtaken the delta coronavirus variant and is now dominant in the United States, accounting for 73 percent of new cases nationwide, federal health officials estimate.

In Maryland, the trend is consistent with the one across the country, with the omicron variant outpacing delta.

Omicron cases in Maryland accounted for 75.8 percent of the total coronavirus cases reported for the week ending Dec. 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The delta variant accounted for 24.2 percent of cases, based on the CDC's estimate.

The CDC numbers reported Monday show how quickly omicron is spreading. Nationwide, omicron variant cases increased six-fold in only a week.

"We're pretty concerned about this omicron variant in that even though it seems to be less virulent and less dangerous, it's like four times more contagious," Gov. Larry Hogan said on FOX News Sunday morning. The following day, the governor said he tested positive for the virus.

Hogan was among thousands in the state who reported positive results in the last day. On Tuesday, the Maryland Department of Health reported its largest daily increase in new cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, with 6,218 people testing positive in the past 24 hours.

A surge in cases reflects how much more transmissible the omicron variant is, experts say. Omicron is adept at causing so-called breakthrough infections among vaccinated people, but officials say vaccinations — especially boosters — provide more protection against severe illness.

Maryland's surge in cases comes during a period when public health data was lacking.

The first three cases of the omicron variant in Maryland were confirmed Dec. 3.

Just as omicron arrived, the Maryland Department of Health experienced a cyberattack on Dec. 4, causing a pause in daily reporting of coronavirus-related information.

During the seven-day period from Dec. 3 to 10, the Maryland Department of Health reported the positivity rate across the state jumped by 89 percent, from 5.43 to 10.27 percent. Officials gave this information on Monday, Dec. 20, when state health officials said they would again be able to update daily case counts, positivity rates and testing volumes.

As of Tuesday, the statewide positivity rate in the last day was 15.08 percent, meaning the proportion of people testing positive for the virus is growing. In the last seven days, the positivity rate was 11.64 percent.

Coronavirus-related hospitalizations are also growing, with more than 200 COVID-19 patients admitted to Maryland hospitals in the last week.

On Friday, the state ordered hospitals to make beds available by freeing up space, using alternate care sites and delaying non-urgent surgeries, once COVID-19 hospital patients exceeded 1,200 statewide.

The Maryland Department of Health reported Tuesday that 1,392 people were hospitalized in the state with COVID-19. When the number reaches 1,500, hospitals will be ordered to put their pandemic plans into effect.

"Please get vaccinated, get a booster when you are eligible, and get tested if you have symptoms or plan to travel," Maryland's Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Jinlene Chan said in a statement Monday. "I strongly recommend that people wear masks when indoors as another critical layer of protection."

Based on federal data, omicron cases appear to have exploded in the region including Maryland in the last week, growing from about 8 percent to nearly 76 percent of all new coronavirus cases.

For the week ending Dec. 11, the CDC reported the omicron variant accounted for 8.4 percent of cases in the region including Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. At that point, the CDC estimated delta remained dominant, accounting for 91.3 percent of the cases in the region.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told reporters Monday that omicron’s rapid spread matches what other countries have seen.

“These new numbers are stark, but they are not surprising,” Walensky said.

Officials say getting vaccinated and boosted is the best defense against the omicron variant.

Only about 28 percent of Americans have gotten their COVID-19 booster shots, while 61 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated but not boosted, according to federal health officials.

For more information, go to the CDC data tracker.

See Also:

• Governor Hogan Confirms Positive COVID-19 Test
• COVID Boosters Urged In MD To Fight Omicron Surge: Gov. Hogan
• Cyberattack Targets Maryland Department Of Health
• Omicron Variant Confirmed In 3 Maryland Residents: Governor