The Carroll County Health Department on Monday announced three deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 159 new cases reported over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend.
Preliminarily, Carroll saw 253 total COVID-19 cases last week, the second-most the county has seen in a week but significantly down from the record 322 that were reported the previous week. Last week’s total could’ve been lessened by the fact that there was no testing at the county’s Carroll County Agriculture Center site on Thanksgiving Day. Typically, testing is done Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Two of the fatalities reported Monday were among residents of congregate living facilities and the third was a woman from the wider community in the over-65 age group, according to the health department. Carroll has seen 164 coronavirus-related deaths with 13 were reported in November compared to 11 reported in the previous three months combined.
The facility fatalities were residents of Brinton Woods Health and Rehabilitation Center at Winfield and Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster. There have been 138 deaths among residents of congregate living facilities, such as nursing homes, in Carroll.
Four more facility cases were reported Monday — one resident at Carroll Lutheran Village, one resident at Lorien Taneytown, one staff member at Springfield Hospital Center and one resident of a facility with such small numbers of residents the health department does not name it out of privacy concerns. Facilities have seen a total of 755 cases. Eight facilities have active outbreaks.
The remaining 155 cases announced Monday were among community members with 49 counting toward this week. Another 105 count toward the week of Nov. 22. There were 235 community cases that week, the second-most Carroll has seen but down from 301 the previous week.
Of the 155 new community cases, 24 were under 20 years old and 27 were over 60. The remaining 104 ranged from 21 to 59.
Carroll County Breaking News
Carroll’s positivity rate, reported as a seven-day rolling average, dropped to 5.07% through Sunday, the most recent data available. It has been relatively flat for the past four days since hitting a recent peak of 6.88% on Nov. 22. The statewide rate rose to 6.86%.
Carroll had a net gain of 16 probable cases for a total of 295 with seven previously probable cases confirmed. The probable cases stem from Carroll countians who tested positive using a rapid antigen test, rather than a molecular test like those offered at state-run testing sites. The department doesn’t consider these results to be confirmed cases.
Carroll saw 232 community members released from isolation, meaning at least 24 hours have passed since recover (defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms) and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. To date, 2,307 have been declared cured. There were three new hospitalization, so 145 community members have been hospitalized since the beginning of the pandemic.
Of the 2,564 community members who have tested positive in Carroll, 77 are younger than 10 years old; 296 are in the 10-19 range; 508 are 20-29 years old; 330 are 30-39; 368 are 40-49; 494 are 50-59; 297 are 60-69; 129 are 70-79; 57 are 80-89; and eight are in their 90s. Women have accounted for 1,333 of the positive tests, men for 1,231 and data was unavailable for one case.
According to health department data, Carroll has confirmed 3,319 total cases. Westminster has seen the most with 1,155 across two ZIP codes, followed by Sykesville/Eldersburg with 837, Mount Airy with 338, Manchester with 220, Hampstead with 182, Taneytown with 171, Finksburg with 162, New Windsor with 77, Marriottsville with 55, Woodbine with 48, Keymar with 34, and Union Bridge with 30. Data is not released in ZIP codes with seven cases or fewer.
Anyone who thinks they or a family member might be showing coronavirus symptoms can call the hotline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday 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.