State reports 404 new coronavirus cases, 18 more deaths

Maryland officials reported 404 new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday, ending a two days of declines in newly confirmed cases, while 18 more people have died from the disease

Tuesday’s additions bring the state’s total to 65,007 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus since it first appeared in mid-March. To date, 2,963 people have died due to the disease or complications from it.

While Tuesday marked an increase in new cases over the 297 reported Monday, the number of hospitalizations due to the disease dropped significantly. As of Tuesday, 561people in Maryland are hospitalized due to COVID-19, 41 fewer than Monday. A week ago, there were 181 more patients hospitalized due to the disease.

The statewide testing positivity rate is at 5.06%, a slight increase from 5.03% Monday.

As the state has stepped up its ability to test for COVID-19, reporting 10,360 newly completed cases in the past 24 hours, some have criticized Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration for how the tests have been allocated.

Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services has yet to test all of the youths and staff members at its facilities, drawing the ire of critics who have pointed to Hogan’s statement last month proclaiming there would be universal testing at all department facilities.

Carroll County officials said Monday they’ve identified a spike of 15 more cases at the Central Maryland Correctional Facility in Sykesville after it conducted universal testing. Two inmates at the facility have died due to the disease.

As Hogan has further lifted statewide restrictions on businesses and social gatherings, many municipalities and counties have announced that they will allow some establishments like restaurants and churches to reopen in a limited capacity.

Baltimore City, which had a positivity test rate of 5.32% Tuesday, allowed restaurants, churches and gyms to reopen in a limited capacity beginning last Friday. The Horseshoe Casino Baltimore also was allowed to reopen at 50% capacity with other safeguards.

There are conflicting guidelines as to what rate of positive COVID-19 tests states should reach before reopening businesses and lifting business restrictions.

Gov. Larry Hogan has cited a guideline from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends reopenings after two weeks of a positivity rate of less than15%. The CDCrecommendation for even further reopenings is another two weeks of positivity rates below 10%.