MoCo Hits 15,780 Coronavirus Cases; Phase 3 Date Still Uncertain

SILVER SPRING, MD — Maryland's most populous jurisdiction on Monday added 53 new coronavirus cases and one more death.

The latest data released by the Maryland Department of Health pushes Montgomery County's case total to 15,780 and fatality count to 722.

Health officials believe another 38 people died from COVID-19 without ever getting tested. They are considered "probable deaths" until a lab test can provide confirmation.

The county — which is currently in phase two of its reopening plan — 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 19,773, according to the latest figures.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has not yet released a date for phase three, saying officials are still "watching the data and following the science."

The county is using 10 public health benchmarks as a guide for reopening. To date, the county has met, or is close to meeting, eight of those benchmarks.

Here's a snapshot:

Gov. Larry Hogan is using similar metrics on a state level.

As of Monday, there have been 73,527 coronavirus cases, 3,194 confirmed deaths, and 131 "probable deaths" in Maryland.

Hogan said Monday that the number of intensive care unit beds in use by COVID-19 patients is the lowest in more than three months.

"While a number of states continue to see alarming #COVID19 spikes and outbreaks, the encouraging trends in Maryland's key metrics are holding steady," he tweeted tweeted. "818,993 tests have now been completed, our statewide positivity rate is 4.63%, and ICU bed usage is at its lowest since March 29."

There are 386 coronavirus patients in hospital, according to the latest figures. Of that total, 108 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).