MD Sees Fourth Highest One-Day Increase In Cases Since March

MARYLAND — Maryland has recorded its fourth-highest number of new COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic in March.

In the past 24 hours, state health officials reported 2,378 new cases, pushing its total to 192,858 infections. The three other largest one-day increases were seen in November. They were: 2,018 cases on Nov. 18; 2,885 cases on Nov. 21; and 2,697 cases on Nov. 25.

On Friday, the Maryland Health Department added 22 new deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 4,414.

The latest fatality count does not include the 155 others whose deaths were linked to the virus, but never confirmed by a lab test. They are considered "probable deaths" — and will not be added to the official death toll until officials can confirm the cause of death.

On Friday, state health officials reported that there were 1,435 people hospitalized due to the disease — 18 fewer than the day before.

The statewide test positivity rate is slightly lower than it was on Thursday. It now stands at 6.3 percent.