Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to give an update on the state’s effort to combat the coronavirus amid a recent spike in cases.
Hogan’s planned 5 p.m. presser comes amid a seventh straight day of the state exceeding 1,000 daily reported cases. Roughly 4,100 Marylanders have died from the coronavirus since the pandemic began last spring.
The state health department released data Tuesday morning that shows hospitalizations increased by 54 patients for a statewide total of 761, the highest figure since June 13.
The state’s positivity rate is now 5.24%, its highest since June 18.
In Montgomery County, which has the second-highest number of confirmed cases in the state, the county council voted Tuesday to decrease capacity at restaurants and for other restrictions.
Baltimore Mayor Bernard “Jack” Young announced last week the city will tighten restrictions such as masks worn at indoor and outdoor public spaces and not exceed 25 percent capacity at restaurants, malls and other venues. Gatherings at homes may not exceed 10 people.
The city’s restrictions are scheduled to go into effect Thursday.
Meanwhile, Hogan expressed frustration last week over those refusing to abide by a statewide order to wear face coverings in public, cajoling residents to “just wear the damn masks.”
Despite the state’s increase in cases, Hogan said the state’s metrics “do not yet warrant taking drastic immediate actions.”