COVID-19 In Maryland: Over 2.6K New Cases, Positivity Rate At 8.14%

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Maryland added over 2,600 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, raising the positivity rate to 8.14%, according to the State Department of Health.

LATEST: Over 2.3K New Cases As Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Fall Slightly

The state added 2,643 new confirmed cases, bringing the total up to 215,027 confirmed cases.

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Twenty-six new deaths were reported, bringing the total to 4,685.

The number of those currently hospitalized dropped by twenty-two, lowering the number to 1,576. Of those hospitalized, 1,183 are in acute care, while 393 are in intensive care.

Since the pandemic began, the state has seen 4,685,476 tests conducted, with 2,225,595 coming back negative.

There was a day in the last week where officials said someone died in the U.S. from COVID-19 every 30 seconds. That culminated to coronavirus being the leading cause of death in the U.S. last week.

Medical experts are sounding the alarm, saying the worst is yet to come.

"I think they need to know that this is real, that this is worse than it was in May and June," said Dr. Reginald Brown, director of Grace Medical Center's Emergency Department in Baltimore.

Doctors all across the country have the same message. Take the pandemic seriously.

Dr. Brown said the coronavirus is rapidly spreading in many communities.

"We are seeing an increased rate of those folks testing in the tents and urgent care centers in Maryland and that is certainly alarming to the medical professionals and hospital administration," Dr. Brown said.

The positivity rate also rose 0.10%, with the total now at 8.14%. It was about half that a month ago.

There are also concerns that hospitals are getting full.

Data from Johns Hopkins University shows the U.S. has more than 14 million positive COVID-19 cases- the most in the world.

With more people getting sick, doctors are worried hospitals are starting to feel the pressure.

"What lies ahead for the next few moths is actually our worst case scenario in terms of overwhelmed hospitals in terms of the death count," said former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen.

Two vaccines are a step closer to getting emergency approval from the FDA. But most Americans will have to wait months to get a dose.

Until then, doctors want people to watch out.

"We are optimistic that with the developments with the vaccine that we are nearing the finish line, but it is certainly not time to let down our guard," Dr. Brown said.

Here's a breakdown of coronavirus cases and deaths by county. Probable deaths are listed with an asterisk.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

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