Maryland reports new high in coronavirus tests completed; number of cases is more than prior two days combined

A day before Maryland takes the next step of its reopening process, government officials reported the state’s highest number of completed coronavirus tests for a single day.

Maryland reported 1,286 new cases of the coronavirus Thursday, more than the prior two days combined. But state officials also reported 16,353 new completed tests Thursday, the state’s most for a single day by nearly 6,000, after beginning to report the number as of Wednesday night.

The state has gotten results for almost 316,800 total tests. There have been more than 225,000 people who have tested negative, while 3,468 of those who have been infected have since been released from isolation.

Maryland has one of the highest rates of tests that come back positive in the nation. The state is reporting a rolling seven-day average positivity rate of 12.4%.

There are 49,709 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in Maryland, with 8,392 of those infections requiring hospitalizations during the virus’ run, according to state data. Maryland officials report 1,334 patients are hospitalized because of the virus, a decline of four after two straight days of increases.

Current hospitalizations are the metric Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration is most strongly considering in its decisions of continued reopening. Wednesday, Hogan announced the state will allow outdoor dining, camps and pools under certain specifications beginning Friday as Maryland approaches the second phase of its reopening plan.

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The state also reported 37 more fatalities from COVID-19. There have been fewer than 50 reported deaths in eight of the past nine days, though the date deaths are reported does not reflect the date they happen. All but three of the victims reported Thursday died this week. The coronavirus has killed 2,307 Marylanders, according to state data, not including 121 deaths believed to be caused by the virus but not confirmed by a laboratory test.

Nearly 30% of those at least 80 years old with a confirmed infection have died, while 88% of Maryland’s death toll from the virus has been those who are at least 60 years. About 53% of the states confirmed infections are in those 30-59.

Among those whose race is known, African Americans, about 30 percent of Maryland’s overall population, account for 36% of Maryland’s cases and 43% of its virus-related deaths. The state’s Hispanic and Latino populations, 10% of the state’s overall population, represent 31% of the infections.