July 29th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Times News reports COVID-19 case rates have increased in the past week in Allegany County, which topped the state’s seven-day metrics Thursday.According to the Maryland Department of Health, the daily COVID-19 case rate was 9.97% statewide, 17.33% in Allegany County, 17.72% in Garrett County and 16.46% in Washington County. The seven-day moving average case rate per 100,000 people was 26.7 statewide, 44.23 in Allegany County and highest in the state, 23.63 in Garrett County and 26.86 in Washington County. Across Maryland, there were 1,975 new COVID-19 cases, 11 additional deaths and nine more hospitalizations reported Thursday morning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed Allegany and Garrett counties each as having 33.3% more new hospital admissions of confirmed COVID-19 patients Monday than the prior week.

The CDC reported 56.3% of Allegany County and 51.7% of Garrett County residents were fully vaccinated against the disease, which were significantly lower rates than much of the state.