Montgomery County Coronavirus Cases Near 16K; Deaths Hit 725

ROCKVILLE, MD — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Montgomery County increased by 103 to 15,986, according to state data released Wednesday.

Meanwhile, one more person has died from COVID-19, pushing the local death toll to 725.

The fatality count does not include the 38 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 total until a lab can confirm the cause of death.

The county — which is home to roughly 1.1 million residents — 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 20,099, according to the latest figures.

Statewide, health officials are reporting 3,209 confirmed deaths and 132 "probable deaths."

On Wednesday, the state announced that confirmed coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rose for the second straight day.

The latest data brings the total number of cases to 75,016. That's an increase of 756 cases overnight, and marks the second consecutive day that Maryland reported more than 700 new infections.

Those between the ages of 30 and 39 make up the most cases (18.7 percent; 14,028 cases), according to the latest data.

The number of hospitalized coronavirus patients increased by 32 to 447. It's the second day that hospitalization numbers were above 400.

Before Wednesday, the largest single-day increase was recorded on May 26, with 39 new patients.

In addition to those figures, the state has released data for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes. It shows that COVID-19 has infected 3,907 residents and 2,039 staff members.

Residents make up a majority of deaths, with 897. The death toll for staff members now stands at 15.

In Montgomery County, residents in these facilities have had 676 cases and 189 deaths. Staff have had 457 cases and four deaths.

Maryland health officials recently fined four nursing homes, including one in Rockville, for failing to test all residents and staff for coronavirus, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Back in April, Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order that made universal coronavirus testing mandatory at all senior living facilities.

The state levied $10,000 fines against ManorCare Health Services - Adelphi and the Stadium Place Nursing and Rehab Center in Baltimore, according to The Sun. The Glen Burnie Health and Rehabilitation Center and the Potomac Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Rockville were each issued a $4,000 fine.

The fines were issued after health inspections in June, according to The Sun.