County's Positivity Rate Drops To Lowest Level Since October

BETHESDA, MD — Montgomery County's seven-day positivity rate for COVID-19 fell to 2.84 percent on Friday — its lowest level since late October.

The positivity rate, which measures the percentage of COVID-19 tests that come back positive in a one-week span, has been declining since the beginning of last month — going from 8.48 percent on Jan. 3 to 2.84 percent on Friday. It hasn't been this low since Oct. 25, when it was 2.75 percent.

The latest data, published by the Maryland Department of Health, shows that the state's rate is on a similar trajectory — falling from 9.47 percent on Jan. 3 to 3.66 percent on Friday.

Here's a visual:

On Friday, Montgomery County reported 143 new cases of the coronavirus, pushing its cumulative total to 63,039 since the pandemic began in March.

No new deaths were recorded overnight. The local death toll still sits at 1,363.

Health officials believe that another 45 residents had the virus, but died before ever getting tested. For now, they are considered "probable deaths."

Montgomery County — which is home to roughly 1 million people — continues to have the highest number of deaths in the state. It also has the second-highest number of confirmed cases, after Prince George's County, which has 72,990, according to the latest figures.

Across Maryland, there have been 380,436 coronavirus cases, 7,656 confirmed deaths, and 182 "probable deaths." Of the 943 patients being hospitalized for the disease statewide, 245 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

It's been almost a year since the first three COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the state — all of which were from Montgomery County. Maryland's first coronavirus death was announced on March 18. The victim — a Prince George's County resident in his 60s — had an underlying medical condition.

To honor those who've died since then, flags are being flown at half-staff in Montgomery County.

"We mourn, and we remember, together," County Executive Marc Elrich tweeted Friday.

Flags are at half-staff to remember the 500,000+ Americans who lost their lives to #COVID19 this past year. In @MontgomeryCoMD, we have lost 1,363 residents to this health crisis. We mourn, and we remember, together. pic.twitter.com/OtCemhcaJq
— County Exec Marc Elrich (@MontCoExec) February 26, 2021