Montgomery County Adds 97 New Coronavirus Cases, Zero New Deaths

BETHESDA, MD — Montgomery County recorded 97 new coronavirus cases and zero new deaths on Monday, bringing its total to 18,489 infections and 764 fatalities since the pandemic hit the region in early March.

Another 39 people may have died from COVID-19, but a laboratory test is still needed to confirm the cause of death.

Maryland's most populous county — which is home to roughly 1.1 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 23,832, according to the latest figures.

Statewide, there have been 96,258 confirmed cases, 3,454 deaths, and 137 "probable deaths."

Like Gov. Larry Hogan, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is waiting for COVID-19 data to improve before entering phase three of reopening. Hogan has given all 24 jurisdictions in the state discretion in deciding when and how to reopen their respective economies.

Under phase two in Montgomery County, restaurants and bars can resume indoor dining at 50 percent capacity, playgrounds and parks can reopen with restrictions, and gatherings are capped at 50 people. Many personal service businesses that were previously excluded from Elrich's phase two reopening plan — such as tattoos parlors and tanning salons — can now operate, as well.

To advance to phase three, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said he needs to see daily case numbers drop to the teens or 20s, and a steady decline in the test positivity rate.

For the past two months, cases have plateaued in the 70s and 80s.

The county's test positivity rate is now at 2.94 percent. A week earlier, it was at 2.85 percent. A month ago, it was at 4.49 percent.

Here's a closer look at the county's positivity rate. For comparison, the state's positivity rate is in blue.