14 MD Jurisdictions In Red Zone, 4th COVID Wave Hits

MARYLAND — Before St. Patrick's Day, all Maryland jurisdictions were out of the "red zone," based on falling coronavirus positivity and case rates.

Less than a month later, the latest report from the White House COVID-19 task force shows more than half of the state's 24 jurisdictions are in the red zone and only one other state in the country has more hospitalizations caused by another surge in the virus.

Transmission of the virus is high statewide, according to authorities, who said the number of coronavirus patients admitted to Maryland hospitals increased in the latest report by 25 percent over the previous week.

See the latest White House Coronavirus Task Force report for Maryland, which was released Tuesday. It is dated April 9 and covers the period from April 1 to April 7.

During that time frame, officials said Maryland had the second-highest number in the nation of confirmed coronavirus-positive patients admitted to hospitals per 100 beds. The only state with a higher ranking was Michigan.

COVID-19 Cases Are Skewing Younger

Health experts in two jurisdictions say Maryland is experiencing a "fourth wave" of the virus.

Younger people are driving infections in Harford County, which has the highest positivity rate in Maryland Wednesday and where the health officer said the virus is hitting those 15 to 60 years old.

"The group between [age] 15 to 24 is really leading this," Harford County Health Officer Dr. David Bishai said Tuesday.

New cases started rising in the second half of March among 15- to 24-year-old people in Harford County, followed by those 25 to 44 years old, then spreading to those 45 to 60 years old, he said.

The health commissioner in another Maryland jurisdiction reported a "fourth wave" in infections as well.

"The new wave of COVID-19 is striking at a time where we are seeing more and more vaccines being distributed in Baltimore City, which has changed the profile of the average COVID-19 hospitalization," Baltimore Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said.

"Those age 20 to 29 and 40 to 49 are now the leaders in new COVID-19 cases," Dzirasa said a news conference in early April. "Essentially, Gen Z millennials and Generation X are contributing most to the rapid rise in case counts here in the city. It remains vital that Baltimore residents get vaccinated as soon as they are able."

All adults age 16 and up are eligible to be vaccinated in Maryland as of April 12.

14 Jurisdictions In Red Zone

These jurisdictions are in the red zone based on the latest White House report on Maryland, which was released Tuesday: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, Prince George's and Washington counties as well as Baltimore City.

Areas in red zones have more than 100 new cases of the virus per 100,000 residents and positivity rates above 10 percent.

7 Counties In Orange Zone

These counties are in the orange zone: Allegany, Montgomery, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties.

To be in the "orange zone," areas must report 51 to 100 new cases per 100,000 residents and positivity rates between 8 and 10 percent.

3 MD Counties In Yellow Zone

These are in the yellow zone: Calvert, Garrett and Somerset counties.

Yellow zone counties have reported between 10 and 50 new cases per 100,000 residents and a diagnostic test positivity result between 5 and 7.9 percent.

Related:

• All MD Residents 16 And Up Can Get COVID-19 Vaccine
• 'Fourth Wave' Of Coronavirus Is In Harford County: Health Officer