Posted on 08/04/21
| News Source: WBAL
Concerns over the delta variant are at the forefront as COVID-19 cases are rising across the nation. On Wednesday morning, the Maryland Health Department reported 695 new COVID-19 cases, the highest amount reported since May 7 of this year.
While various COVID-19 metrics are increasing, Maryland has a high vaccination rate. To date, 7,221,715 have been administered, 3,643,302 people received their first dose, 3,304,480 people received their second dose and 273,933 people have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
On Tuesday, Gov. Larry Hogan said reinstating a state mask mandate was not in the works.
"We're still very concerned about the delta variant. It's more contagious, it's spreading rapidly and we're telling those people that haven't gotten vaccinated that they need to. The other folks are in much better shape," Hogan said. "If you want to stay out of the hospital, and you want to avoid dying, then you should get vaccinated."
Maryland Health Secretary Dennis Schrader told WBAL'S Robert Lang the spike in cases recently is due to the unvaccinated, and like Hogan, he believes that the state is not reinstating its mask mandate.