MoCo Sees Smallest One-Day Rise In Cases As Restrictions Ease

SILVER SPRING, MD — Montgomery County saw Friday its smallest daily increase in coronavirus cases since Sept. 10.

The Maryland Department of Health is now reporting 21,640 positive infections in Montgomery County. That's an increase of 66 cases over the prior day.

Zero deaths were reported overnight, state data shows. The countywide death toll remains at 796.

Another 41, health officials believe, likely had COVID-19 but died without ever getting tested. They are classified as "probable deaths" — and won't be added to the official fatality count until a lab test can confirm the cause of death.

Statewide, there have been 119,062 coronavirus cases, 3,724 confirmed deaths, and 145 "probable deaths." Of the 347 patients being hospitalized, 84 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The test positivity rate in Maryland now stands at 3.21 percent. In Montgomery County, the positivity rate is 2.71 percent.

Friday's additions come a day after Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced that venues can hold outdoor live performances, with restrictions. Previously, only food service establishments were allowed to have live entertainment.

"This is a delicate balance, which is why we're beginning cautiously," Elrich said. "We are trying to find ways to allow performances while we are continuing to look at the intractability of our case count numbers — they are not going down in any sort of consistent manner — we have to keep that constantly in mind as we make adjustments."

Venues interested in having outdoor live performances must submit a request for a Letter of Approval and follow a number of COVID-19 regulations, including capping crowds at 50 people.

SEE ALSO:

• Outdoor Live Performances Allowed In MoCo Under Phase 2 Revisions