The has been a lot of talk about the rising COVID-19 numbers recently on the news. Looking at the data reported by the Maryland Department of Health yesterday: There were 244 new COVID-19 cases across the state reported on July 21st. This is the highest number of new cases in a day since May 30th (249 reported new COVID-19 cases reported on that date). Below is a chart outlining the daily new cases since May 30th:
| Date | Total Cases | New Cases |
| 2021/05/30 14:00:00+00 | 459777 | 249 |
| 2021/05/31 14:00:00+00 | 459894 | 117 |
| 2021/06/01 14:00:00+00 | 459995 | 101 |
| 2021/06/02 14:00:00+00 | 460060 | 65 |
| 2021/06/03 14:00:00+00 | 460194 | 134 |
| 2021/06/04 14:00:00+00 | 460339 | 145 |
| 2021/06/05 14:00:00+00 | 460471 | 132 |
| 2021/06/06 14:00:00+00 | 460575 | 104 |
| 2021/06/07 14:00:00+00 | 460659 | 84 |
| 2021/06/08 14:00:00+00 | 460737 | 78 |
| 2021/06/09 14:00:00+00 | 460863 | 126 |
| 2021/06/10 14:00:00+00 | 460984 | 121 |
| 2021/06/11 14:00:00+00 | 461097 | 113 |
| 2021/06/12 14:00:00+00 | 461183 | 86 |
| 2021/06/13 14:00:00+00 | 461265 | 82 |
| 2021/06/14 14:00:00+00 | 461325 | 60 |
| 2021/06/15 14:00:00+00 | 461392 | 67 |
| 2021/06/16 14:00:00+00 | 461470 | 78 |
| 2021/06/17 14:00:00+00 | 461549 | 79 |
| 2021/06/18 14:00:00+00 | 461635 | 86 |
| 2021/06/19 14:00:00+00 | 461697 | 62 |
| 2021/06/20 14:00:00+00 | 461739 | 42 |
| 2021/06/21 14:00:00+00 | 461779 | 40 |
| 2021/06/22 14:00:00+00 | 461828 | 49 |
| 2021/06/23 14:00:00+00 | 461887 | 59 |
| 2021/06/24 14:00:00+00 | 461953 | 66 |
| 2021/06/25 14:00:00+00 | 462017 | 64 |
| 2021/06/26 14:00:00+00 | 462078 | 61 |
| 2021/06/27 14:00:00+00 | 462144 | 66 |
| 2021/06/28 14:00:00+00 | 462181 | 37 |
| 2021/06/29 14:00:00+00 | 462217 | 36 |
| 2021/06/30 14:00:00+00 | 462279 | 62 |
| 2021/07/01 14:00:00+00 | 462354 | 75 |
| 2021/07/02 14:00:00+00 | 462439 | 85 |
| 2021/07/03 14:00:00+00 | 462535 | 96 |
| 2021/07/04 14:00:00+00 | 462596 | 61 |
| 2021/07/05 14:00:00+00 | 462634 | 38 |
| 2021/07/06 14:00:00+00 | 462681 | 47 |
| 2021/07/07 14:00:00+00 | 462736 | 55 |
| 2021/07/08 14:00:00+00 | 462835 | 99 |
| 2021/07/09 14:00:00+00 | 462980 | 145 |
| 2021/07/10 14:00:00+00 | 463107 | 127 |
| 2021/07/11 14:00:00+00 | 463186 | 79 |
| 2021/07/12 14:00:00+00 | 463265 | 79 |
| 2021/07/13 14:00:00+00 | 463383 | 118 |
| 2021/07/14 14:00:00+00 | 463487 | 104 |
| 2021/07/15 14:00:00+00 | 463665 | 178 |
| 2021/07/16 14:00:00+00 | 463848 | 183 |
| 2021/07/17 14:00:00+00 | 464031 | 183 |
| 2021/07/18 14:00:00+00 | 464197 | 166 |
| 2021/07/19 14:00:00+00 | 464336 | 139 |
| 2021/07/20 14:00:00+00 | 464491 | 155 |
| 2021/07/21 14:00:00+00 | 464735 | 244 |
Not only are new cases beginning to tick up but so are hospitalizations. Reported on July 21 is 146 beds in use due to COVID-19 across the state. You have to go back to June 22nd for the last time the state had that many beds in use due to COVID-19:
While I would not characterize these increases as a “spike” there is little question that the numbers are rising a bit. I will continue to watch the state wide numbers and I will begin again watching the local numbers for Carroll County and Howard County.
On July 19th Governor Hogan shared this information:
Maryland’s infection rate remains one of the lowest in the country, but those who are unvaccinated are at higher risk—especially with the highly transmissible Delta variant that is circulating.
*98%* of today’s new confirmed cases are among those who are not fully vaccinated.
If you have not be vaccinated you can find a vaccination clinic near you and make an appointment here: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine#locator
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Scott E
