Breaking News
Covid-19 Cases Reach New Highs in Maryland, Virginia and DC During the Holiday Season
Over the three-day Christmas holiday weekend, the states of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. reported record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases.
The Washington Post reported on Monday that the country’s capital, along with its neighboring states, reported a record-setting seven-day new case averages accounted for at any point during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In Virginia, 18,513 people tested positive over the three-day Christmas weekend and 25 died of COVID-19. Maryland reported 5,376 new cases Monday, on top of more than 15,000 during the weekend, and has not yet returned to reporting deaths because of a cyberattack that affected the state’s health department. The District reported 9,200 cases and two deaths from Dec. 23 to 26,” the news outlet reported.
According to the post, many who had gotten positive results had been a part of large crowds that were lining up to get tested before the holiday weekend. Additionally, over 16% of all reported tests in Washington D.C. all had positive results as of Saturday. This rate is said to be likely higher as it doesn’t take into account at-home tests that people do not report to the health department.
Holiday Covid Cases in the Neighboring States
Meanwhile, Baltimore County in Maryland declared a state of emergency on Monday. Additionally, counties in northern Virginia also saw an increase in transmission rate over the past couple of months.
Even though hospitalization rates continue to go up and although the number of COVID patients in the three states is reportedly higher than ever, all three saw fewer of those patients hospitalized compared to last year’s winter COVID-19 peak.
Recent CDC data presents a 7-day positivity rate at 15-19.9% in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
In DC, COVID cases last week totaled almost 8,350, while Virginia had almost 40,550 and Maryland had nearly 42,200 cases.
Maryland also reported its first confirmed omicron cases on Dec. 3. On the other hand, Virginia confirmed its first case on Dec. 9 while DC confirmed four COVID cases just three days after.
Up Next:
