Shared by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball on January 10th:
As of 9:00 a.m. this morning and according to the Maryland Department of Health, Howard County’s positivity rate is 24.8% and our 7-day average case rate is 178. Newly reported cases continue to be at record highs. Since the cyberattack on the Maryland Department of Health on December 4th, we’ve not received complete data for Howard County. We’re working to update our dashboard with the latest metrics for hospitalizations, testing, vaccines, and positivity rate.
Howard County has high vaccination rates with 79% of our total population being fully vaccinated, and 86% of our residents 12+ are vaccinated. Approximately 39% of our residents 18+ still have not received their booster shot. With Omicron’s virulence, the unvaccinated are at greater risk for hospitalization. Studies show that vaccinated individuals are still at risk of being infected with the Omicron variant. However, vaccines and boosters are working by significantly reducing hospitalization and even death.
There are currently 62 COVID-19 patients in both the ICU and Acute Care units at Howard County General Hospital. Please remember that emergency rooms are for emergencies only. Seeking testing at an emergency room — without an urgent or emerging medical need — diverts critical, life-saving resources from people who are truly experiencing an emergency.
We must continue to practice the mitigation strategies we have all become accustomed to: stay home if you are sick, get tested, wear a high-quality mask, and please get vaccinated and boosted if you haven’t already. Find a vaccine near you at vaccine.howardcountymd.gov.
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Scott E
