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November 22, 2024

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

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Hogan Tests Positive for COVID-19, State Data on Overall Case Rates Still Unavailable as Hospitalizations Rise

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Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) tweeted Monday morning that he’s tested positive for COVID-19.

The governor, who is vaccinated and boosted, tweeted that he was “feeling fine at the moment.” He encouraged others to get initial vaccinations or booster shots as soon as they are able to.

Hogan’s rapid test result — a PCR test result remains pending — is one of the only publicly known current COVID cases in the state; the Maryland Department of Health has not disseminated data on new COVID-19 cases, mortality or testing since early December as a result of a “network security incident.”

The state has continued to release hospitalization and vaccination data. On Sunday, there were 1,345 currently hospitalized COVID patients, including 301 people in intensive care units. The number of hospitalizations has increased dramatically since Nov. 1, when 568 people were hospitalized with COVID.

On Friday, hospitals in the state began to suspend some elective surgeries that require an overnight stay to deal with overcrowding; if the state’s hospitalizations surpass 1,500, additional policies to free up bed space will go into effect.

During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Hogan said his administration is focusing on COVID hospitalization and death rates.

“We’ve got hospitalizations up about 150% over the past two weeks, and we’re taking steps to provide more support for our hospitals, and we’re putting more into testing,” Hogan told anchor Bret Baier on a broadcast that aired Sunday morning.

The governor also said he was anticipating “probably the worst surge we’ve seen in our hospitals throughout the entire crisis” as a result of the omicron variant that is believed to be rapidly spreading.

Also during the Fox News appearance, Hogan slammed the decision by the Prince George’s County school board to shift back to virtual learning due to an increase in positive tests. The governor said he has no plans to reimpose pandemic lockdowns amid concerns over surging infection rates.

The Hogan administration has not provided a timeline for when COVID data will once again be published on the Department of Health website.

The security breach involved “unauthorized activity involving multiple network infrastructure systems” and “servers were taken offline to protect the network,” according to the agency.

The state has also said it is “actively engaged with both state and federal law enforcement partners as part of an ongoing criminal investigation” related to the network breach.

A statement on the Department of Health website said there is “no evidence that any data was compromised.”

By Danielle E. Gaines

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

High COVID-19 Community Transmission Levels Across Region; Wear Masks in Public Indoor Settings, CDC Says

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Community transmission levels for COVID-19 are substantial in Talbot County and high across the rest of the Mid-Shore, according to the CDC.

Everyone should wear masks in public indoor settings when transmission levels are at those levels, according to the federal agency’s COVID-19 County Check.

Security concern affects data updates

Some state and county COVID-19 statistics have not been updated for about 10 days as a result of “a network security incident involving the Maryland Department of Health,” according to the Dorchester County Health Department’s website. “There is no evidence of a data breach” and  “certain systems have been taken offline out of an abundance of caution.”

A note dated Dec. 15, 2021, on the Maryland Department of Health’s website says the agency “is experiencing a server outage. Hospitalizations data are current. Other surveillance data will be updated as soon as possible. Vaccine data is updated as of 12/15/2021.”

State officials will be questioned about the Dec. 4 attack by “(t)wo legislative committees that oversee the Maryland Department of Health,” Maryland Matters reported. “Although some systems have come back online, the agency has not posted COVID-19 case rates, testing or mortality data since Dec. 3.”

Vaccinations

• CDC 18+ population with at least one dose : 90.3%

• To pre-register for a vaccine appointment, visit www.marylandvax.org or covidvax.maryland.gov or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

• State Vaccine Information Page: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine

• Vaccination Site Search: https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/nearby/index.html?appid=0dbfb100676346ed9758be319ab3f40c

Hospitalizations

• The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Maryland dropped by 22 in the last 24 hours.

• There currently are 1,151 people hospitalized due to coronavirus. COVID-19 hospitalizations had dropped to a low of about 100 in early July.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

CDC: How to Safely Celebrate the Holidays

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With COVID-19 numbers increasing in recent weeks, the CDC is offering suggestions on safer ways to celebrate the holidays.

The best way to minimize COVID-19 risk and keep your family and friends safer is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible, according to the CDC. This is particularly important for holidays and other family events where many generations gather.

The CDC offers these general tips:

• Protect those not yet eligible for vaccination such as young children by getting yourself and other eligible people around them vaccinated.

• Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings if you are not fully vaccinated.

• Even those who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in public indoor settings in communities with substantial to high transmission.

• Outdoors is safer than indoors.

• Avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces.

• If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t host or attend a gathering.

• Get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have a close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

If you are considering traveling for a holiday or event, visit CDC’s Travel page to help you decide what is best for you and your family. CDC still recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated.

• If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow CDC’s domestic travel or international travel recommendations for unvaccinated people.

• If you will be traveling in a group or family with unvaccinated people, choose safer travel options.

• Everyone, even people who are fully vaccinated, is required to wear a mask on public transportation and follow international travel recommendations.

Special considerations:

• People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated and have received an additional dose. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.

• You might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission if a member of your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.

• If you are gathering with a group of people from multiple households and potentially from different parts of the country, you could consider additional precautions (e.g., avoiding crowded indoor spaces before travel, taking a test) in advance of gathering to further reduce risk.

• Do NOT put a mask on children younger than 2 years old.

“By working together, we can enjoy safer holidays, travel, and protect our own health as well as the health of our family and friends,” the CDC states on its website.

The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day; counties may update data throughout the day until 5 p.m., although some counties do not update on weekends. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• Talbot County’s level of community transmission of COVID-19 is high. Everyone should wear a mask in public indoor settings when the community transmission level is substantial or high, according to the CDC.

• You can use the COVID-19 County Check Tool for a snapshot of your county’s level of community transmission over the past 7 days. The tool also displays guidance on masking based on how the virus is spreading in your county.

• The county’s 7-day average positivity rate is 7.29%. The state’s 7-day average positivity rate is 3.9%.

Vaccinations

• CDC 18+ population with at least one dose : 88.4%

• To pre-register for a vaccine appointment, visit www.marylandvax.org or covidvax.maryland.gov or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

• State Vaccine Information Page: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine

• Vaccination Site Search: https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/nearby/index.html?appid=0dbfb100676346ed9758be319ab3f40c

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Spy COVID-19 Aug. 27 Update

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The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• The Maryland State Board of Education approved an in-school mask mandate for all public schools statewide. The emergency regulation must be approved by a state legislative committee; it will be in effect for 180 days if approved.

• The level of community transmission of COVID-19 is high for Maryland and high across the Eastern Shore. Health officials urge everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, to wear masks while indoors.

• Dorchester County’s 7-day average positivity rate is 11.35% and its case rate is 44.74 cases per 100,000 population.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 492,547, an increase of 1,373 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, seven people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 9,748.

• The state’s average positivity rate is 4.92%,  up 0.03% from yesterday.

• The number of patients currently hospitalized is 711, down 9 from yesterday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Spy COVID-19 Aug. 19 Update

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The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• The level of community transmission of COVID-19 is high for Maryland and high across most of the Mid-Shore. Health officials urge everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, to wear masks while indoors.

• Maryland’s average positivity rate topped 5% for the first time since April 22.

• Dorchester County’s community transmission level is high, according to the CDC’s Covid Data Tracker.

• Dorchester County’s 7-day average positivity rate is 10.08% and its case rate is 40.72 cases per 100,000 population.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 483,641, an increase of 1,060 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, nine people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 9,695.

• The number of patients currently hospitalized is 643, up 13 from yesterday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Spy COVID-19 Aug. 17 Update

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The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• The level of community transmission of COVID-19 is high across most of the Mid-Shore and substantial for Maryland as a whole. Health officials urge everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, to wear masks while indoors.

• Dorchester County’s community transmission level is HIGH, according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker.

• Dorchester County’s 7-day average positivity rate is 9.11% and its case rate is 40.27 cases per 100,000 population.

• Maryland’s average positivity rate has been on an upward trend since July 13 and has been above 4% for 10 days.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 481,569, an increase of 851 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, three people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 9,678.

• The number of patients currently hospitalized is 611, up 35 from yesterday. That number was last above 600 on May 17 and had been on a downward trend from April 20 through July 2, when only 97 patients were hospitalized. The current upward trend began July 3.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Md. Positivity Rate Tops 4%, 400+ Hospitalized, Case Rate Stays Above 10

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The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate has topped 4% since Aug. 7, with Monday’s 7-day average at 4.21%.  The positivity rate had been below 4% from April 27 through Friday.

The rate reached a low of 0.54% on June 8; the high of 26.88% was recorded on April 17, 2020.

On Monday, Maryland reported 400 patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The number of hospitalized patients had dropped below 400 on May 27 and hit a low of 97 on July 2. The high, on Jan. 12, was 1,952 patients.

The state’s case rate, the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population, has topped 10 since Aug. 5. That rate had been below 10 from May 8 until Aug. 4.

Maryland’s highest case rate — 53.39 — was recorded on Jan. 12, a low of 0.90 was reported on June 24 and 25. (The rate was at 0.80 and below from March 23 to March 25, 2020, the first three days that statistic was reported by the state.)

*New cases in last 24 hours.

The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• Maryland’s average positivity rate has been on an upward trend since July 13 and has been above 4% for three days.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 475,184, an increase of 629 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, seven people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 9,648.

• The number of patients currently hospitalized is 424, up 24 from yesterday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

COVID-19 Community Transmission Level is High in U.S., Substantial in Md.

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Health officials are urging vaccinations and renewed mask use as COVID-19 trends increase locally, in Maryland, and across the nation, largely due to the delta variant.

The level of community transmission of COVID-19 across the United States is high, with more than two-thirds of the states in that category, according to the CDC. Maryland currently is among 16 states in which the community transmission level is deemed substantial, one step lower than high.

“The level of community transmission is based on the number of cases in the last 7 days per 100,000 population and the number of tests in the last 7 days that have a positive result,” the CDC says.

*New cases in last 24 hours.

The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• Since July 28, Dorchester County has reported 50 new COVID-19 cases. The county’s 7-day average positivity rate is 7.48%.

• Maryland’s average positivity rate has been on an upward trend since July 13 and has been above 3% for seven days.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 473,116, an increase of 892 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, three people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 9,629.

• The number of patients currently hospitalized is 365, up 20 from yesterday.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Spy COVID-19 Aug. 4 Update

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*New cases in last 24 hours.

The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• Dorchester County updates its COVID-19 statistics early Wednesday night. The county’s 7-day average positivity rate is 6.88%.

• Maryland’s average positivity rate has been on an upward trend since July 13 and has been above 3% for four days.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 470,605, an increase of 695 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, five people died as a result of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 9,620.

• The number of patients currently hospitalized is 325, up 16 from yesterday. This is the second straight day the number of patients has been more than 300. There have been more than 200 hospitalized patients for the past eight days. There are 243 patients in acute care beds and 82 in intensive care.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Spy COVID-19 July 30 Update

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*New cases in last 24 hours.

The Spy obtains information for the above chart between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Statewide data is updated about 10 a.m. each day. Johns Hopkins updates its data throughout the day.

Key points for today

• Since July 26, Dorchester County has reported 11 new COVID-19 cases. The county’s 7-day average positivity rate is 3.56%.

• Maryland’s average positivity rate has been on an upward trend since July 13 and has been above 2% for six days.

• The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland is now at 467,961, an increase of 526 in the last 24 hours.

• In the last 24 hours, no one died as a result of COVID-19, leaving the state’s total to 9,599.

• The number of patients currently hospitalized is 222, up 7 from yesterday. There have been more than 200 hospitalized patients for the past three days. There are 164 patients in acute care beds and 58 in intensive care.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.