Still In Phase 2, Montgomery Co. Sees 55 New Cases, 2 New Deaths

ROCKVILLE, MD — Montgomery County reported 55 new coronavirus cases and two more deaths on Thursday, bringing the total number of infections to 20,893 and fatalities to 792.

Health officials believe 40 others likely had COVID-19 but died without ever getting tested. They are classified as "probable deaths" — and won't be added to the official fatality count until a lab test can confirm the cause of death.

The county 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 27,245, according to the latest figures.

Statewide, there have been 114,078 confirmed cases, 3,679 deaths, and 145 "probable deaths." Of the 358 people currently hospitalized, 92 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Unlike most parts of Maryland, Montgomery County is still in phase two of its reopening plan. The county's top health officer, Dr. Travis Gayles, says the county will not enter phase three until officials see about 10 to 35 new cases a day.

In recent months, known daily infections have hovered in the 60s and 70s.

"We're not saying our cases have spiked up," Gayles said last week. "But what we are saying is we've plateaued over the last month ... and we haven't seen a continued improvement in the numbers to suggest that we add on more activities ... that could potentially cause a significant increase in cases."