Hospital admissions drop for coronavirus

Maryland adds 836 cases, 34 more deaths Sunday

The number of coronavirus hospitalizations in Maryland — the main statistic Gov. Larry Hogan used to justify lifting a statewide stay-at-home order Friday — dropped by 40 patients as of Sunday and is now at its lowest level in three weeks, according to state health officials.

As people began returning to retailers, restaurants and other nonessential businesses over the weekend, the number of confirmed cases increased by 836, and 34 more people died as of Sunday, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

The total number of cases of COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, has reached 38,804, officials say. The state’s death toll was 1,876 as of Sunday, and the death rate had stabilized at about 50 deaths per day over the previous two weeks, according to state data.

The total number of people currently hospitalized is 1,460.

In addition to overall hospitalizations, the Republican governor has kept a close eye on the number of intensive care cases as an indicator of hospitals’ capacity, the severity of the virus in Maryland and the The April 28 special election for the 7th state’s readiness to resume normal activDistrict offered a trial run of voting by ities. Ballots for the June 2 primary were not mail for its 400,000 voters. Several issues

The number of COVID-19 patients curmailed to Baltimore voters until at least were reported during the special election rently in intensive care units dropped by 36 Thursday, one week later than scheduled with voters who did not receive ballots. cases from the day before to a total of 562, and even longer after they were mailed to An audit shortly before the election according to the state health department. voters across the rest of the state, revealed voters who had requested absen

The number of acute-care cases dropped according to a news release Sunday from tee ballots in advance did not receive by four to 898 as of Sunday, officials said. state elections officials. ballots when they were mailed en masse

Another 10 people have been released In the statement, sent by an Annapolis to voters. Ballots were mailed April 20 to from isolation since Saturday, and nearly public relations firm, the Maryland Board those voters, but some did not receive 4,000 more people tested negative for the of Elections said the ballots are now them until Election Day. virus, bringing the total number of negative expected to reach city voters no later than Lamone accepted responsibility for the test results to 156,122. May 23. mistake during a legislative hearing last

As of 5 p.m. Friday, the governor allowed Concern grew among Baltimore voters week. The board forgot to send the list of local jurisdictions to decide which “lowthroughout the week as ballots across the quickly, elections officials said previously. those voters to the mail vendor, she said. risk” activities will be permitted to resume, state began to arrive in mailboxes while Post office records show a small perOther April 28 ballots never arrived due such as reopening retail stores at 50% the city’s more than 300,000 active centage of ballots arrived Saturday at to delivery issues with the Postal Service. capacity, hosting outdoor religious services registered Democrats and 30,000 RepubBaltimore voters’ addresses, Charlson More than 20,000 ballots in Baltimore and opening hair salons and barber shops to licans received nothing. said Sunday. City were undeliverable, state officials provide services by appointment only. Baltimore was the last municipality on Charlson said she could not comment reported last week. That was nearly 1 in

A protest calling the state’s restrictions the state’s schedule for ballots to be sent on the change in delivery date. every 10 sent to city voters, a much higher “tyrannical” was held in Annapolis on by its mail vendor in Minnesota, a process “Right now, we’re just focusing on rate than in Baltimore County and HowFriday. that began April 27. Municipalities in the getting the ballots out and delivered,” she ard County.

Stay-at-home orders remain in effect, 7th Congressional District, which just had said. Still others were not counted because however, in the state’s most heavily popua special election in April, were later on Maryland’s primary was rescheduled they were received late or because they lated areas — Baltimore City and Baltimore, the schedule — with ballots to go out for June 2 due to the coronavirus were not signed. A total of 5,135 ballots Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George’s between May 6 and May 8. The district pandemic, which has sickened tens of were not counted, 80% because they were and Montgomery counties — which have includes parts of Baltimore City, Baltithousands of Marylanders. The election, received late. Ballots had to be posthad the most cases and deaths, according to more County and Howard County. which includes several contentious races marked no later than Election Day. state data. The Baltimore Sun contacted the State in Baltimore, including mayor, City CounState lawmakers have asked election

There were more than 11,000 cases in Board of Elections on Friday and asked if cil president and comptroller, is being officials to contact voters who turned in Prince George’s County, more than 8,000 in the ballots were mailed as scheduled. held primarily by mail with limited their ballots after the deadline in an effort Montgomery County, more than 4,600 in Deputy Administrator Nikki Charlson in-person voting centers in an effort to to make sure they are able to correct their Baltimore County, nearly 3,800 in Baltisaid they were mailed May 8. At that time, minimize the spread of the virus. mistake for the June primary. more City, more than 2,800 in Anne Charlson asked Baltimore voters to wait Democratic City Council President The June primary requires to the state Arundel County and more than 1,000 in until midweek to request a new ballot, as Brandon Scott, who is among the top to greatly expand its standard vote-byHoward County, as of Sunday. election administrators could see via U.S. contenders challenging Mayor Bernard C. mail operation. There are about 4 million

As the governor’s stay-at-home order Postal Service tracking that the ballots “Jack” Young, had a news conference eligible registered voters in Maryland was lifted Friday, Baltimore Mayor Bernard were en route. Friday to express concern over the who are on the state’s mailing list. C. “Jack” Young, a Democrat, urged city Linda Lamone, the state’s elections whereabouts of Baltimore voters’ ballots. The last-minute move to voting by mail residents to continue to stay home and said administrator said in the news release In response to the news Sunday that the also meant that it was too late to correct the city’s reopening “must and will be Sunday that she remains “deeply commitballots were mailed later than previously the date printed on the June ballots, state guided by the data and science.” ted” to delivering the ballots promptly. announced, Scott issued a statement officials have said. The instructions in

African American residents account for “We are grateful to the many Baltimore calling for an emergency state Board of cluded in the ballot packets sent to voters nearly one third of the state’s cases, and 23% residents who have contacted us with Elections meeting by Tuesday to find out ask them to ignore the April 28 date (the of those infected are Hispanic. Those questions about the vote by mail process what was happening. primary’s original date) printed at the top. groups make up about 31% and 10% of the and thank them for their patience,” she “The Maryland State Board of ElecBallots must be postmarked by June 2 or state population, respectively, according to said. tions is now reporting that ballots desplaced in drop boxes by 8 p.m. on primary day.Censusdata.CharlsonsaidSundaythattheBalti-tinedforBaltimoreCitywerenotmailed

The elderly and immuno-compromised more ballots were mailed by the state’s to registered voters by May 8, 2020, as For most Baltimore voters, the city’s are considered to be most at-risk for severe mail vendor from print houses in Florida previously stated. This report is comfive drop boxes will be in place before the cases of the respiratory disease. People and Minnesota. The vendor has also used pletely unacceptable,” Scott said. ballots are in their hands. Elections older than 60 account for about 28% of a location in Ohio to mail Maryland’s The June primary is Maryland’s first officials announced last week that the known coronavirus cases in Maryland, but primary ballots. Ballots sent from Ohio statewide election being held primarily by boxes will be installed in the city and they represent 85% of the deaths. and Florida have typically arrived more mail. become operational beginning Monday.