It took about three months into the coronavirus pandemic for Carroll County to reach 1,000 confirmed cases, on June 10. It took nearly four more months for Carroll to see its 2,000th COVID-19 case, on Oct. 5. It took only about a month-and-a-half to get to 3,000.
According to data provided by the Carroll County Health Department, 130 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed from Friday afternoon through Monday afternoon, with 65 of the cases attributed to last week and 65 to this week, meaning Carroll has seen 3,078 total cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
After four deaths attributed to COVID-19 last week, however, no fatalities were announced Monday. There have been 157 Carroll County fatalities attributed to the coronavirus — 24 community members and 133 residents of congregate living facilities.
Looking for a more positive milestone? Through Monday, 102 community members have been 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. That means 2,052 community members have now been declared cured. There was one new hospitalization, so 136 community members have been hospitalized since the beginning of the pandemic.
Carroll finished last week with 315 total cases, easily the highest one-week total to date. That eclipsed the previous week’s week’s 233 cases, which had surpassed the 156 from the first week of November. Before November, Carroll’s highest number had been the week of May 24, when the coronavirus crisis in nursing homes was at its worst and Carroll saw 144 total cases.
Four of the new cases announced Monday were from congregate living facilities: two residents and two staff members at Lorien Taneytown. There have been now been 737 COVID-19 cases at congregate living facilities in Carroll County, 49 this month after just 24 combined from August through October.
The remaining 126 new cases were among members of the wider community, including all 65 this week. Only nine of the cases were among those 19 years old and younger. There were 24 cases each among those in their 20s, 40s and 50s, 19 among those in their 30s, 11 in their 60s, nine in their 70s and six among those 80 or older.
Carroll County Breaking News
Last week, Carroll saw a record 296 community cases, topping the 237 from the week before and the 216 the week before that. Before November, the most community cases in a week for Carroll had been 110, the week of July 26.
Carroll’s positivity rate, reported as a seven-day rolling average, has remained relatively flat for four days. It was at 6.17% through Sunday, according to the latest available data. Through last Thursday, it had risen five days in a row and more than doubled the 2.9% registered on Nov. 1. The statewide rate dropped slightly to 6.88%.
With a net gain of 32, Carroll has had 255 probable cases. 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.
McDaniel College announced two new positive tests and has seen 26 members of its campus community test positive for COVID-19 out of a total of 3,000 tests conducted since Aug. 14.
Of the 2,341 community members who have tested positive in Carroll, 63 are younger than 10 years old; 272 are in the 10-19 range; 464 are 20-29 years old; 301 are 30-39; 337 are 40-49; 455 are 50-59; 274 are 60-69; 116 are 70-79; 52 are 80-89; and seven are in their 90s. Women have accounted for 1,212 of the positive tests, men for 1,128, and data was unavailable for one case.
According to health department data, Carroll has confirmed 3,078 total cases. Westminster has seen the most with 1,075 across two ZIP codes, followed by Sykesville/Eldersburg with 761, Mount Airy with 332, Manchester with 205, Hampstead with 159, Finksburg with 153, Taneytown with 147, New Windsor with 75, Marriottsville with 50, Woodbine with 45, Keymar with 32, and Union Bridge with 29. 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.