Carroll County surpassed 1,000 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, according to the health department.
Five new positive tests brought the county’s total number of cases to 1,001, according to Carroll County Health Department data released Wednesday afternoon. That’s roughly six out of every 1,000 Carroll County residents who have come down with the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Carroll is the eighth county in Maryland to reach 1,000 cases, based on state health department data. Neighboring Frederick and Howard counties both have seen more than 2,000 cases and Baltimore County is nearing 7,000. All three have significantly more population than Carroll, but all three have a higher percentage of residents who have tested positive for the virus.
Congregate living facilities account for nearly 56% of the county’s cases. Two residents at Fairhaven in Sykesville, one resident at Flying Colors of Success in Westminster and two staff members at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy who live in Carroll tested positive, pushing the facilities total to 559.
One death was announced. The person had been a resident at Longview Nursing Home in Manchester. This was the eighth death due to COVID-19 at Longview, which has seen 41 resident cases and 24 staff member cases (17 who live in Carroll).
Of the 116 coronavirus deaths in Carroll County, 104 have been residents or staff members of congregate living facilities. Facilities that house multiple residents are particularly vulnerable to localized outbreaks — especially those that house the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions.
Carroll’s number of community cases remained steady for the second consecutive day.
The county has confirmed 442 community cases. Eight are younger than 10 years old; 22 are in the 10-19 range; 62 are 20-29 years old; 65 are 30-39; 73 are 40-49; 124 are 50-59; 60 are 60-69; 15 are 70-79; and 13 are 80-89. Of the 442 community cases, 217 are women and 225 are men.
The health department considers 290 people to be recovered from the disease — up one since Tuesday. The number of hospitalizations for the disease remained at 72.
According to health department data, Westminster has the most cases in Carroll, with 354 across two ZIP codes, followed by Sykesville/Eldersburg with 233, Mount Airy with 167, Manchester with 76, Taneytown with 35, Hampstead with 33, Finksburg with 29, Keymar with 28, New Windsor with 22, Woodbine with 11 and Union Bridge with eight. Data is suppressed in ZIP codes with seven cases or fewer.
Anyone who thinks they or a family member might be showing coronavirus symptoms can call the Carroll County Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline, which is available 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. seven days a week at 410-876-4848, or contact their doctor. After hours, callers may leave a message or call 211. People with emergencies should continue to call 911.