Md. Senate President @SenBillFerg says #COVID19 trends in the state "starting to get to a place where we may need to bare down again. That doesn't mean closure." #MDPolitics

The state has seen an increase in the lasts week in average daily cases as well has a 17% increase in hospitalizations in the last two weeks. Some of the changes are a return to levels not seen in Maryland in two months.

The state has enjoyed relatively stable and low levels of transmission of the virus as well as deaths associated with disease. But infections nationally are on the rise as people move indoors more because of cold weather

Nationally, new cases are on the rise, 70,000+ per day on average over the last week and 800+ deaths per day, which hasn't been seen since August.

Md. Gov. @LarryHogan said yesterday that lockdown-like restrictions seen in March, April and May are unlikely to return to the state but does expect that the pandemic will worsen in the state during the fall and winter months.

Metrics in Maryland are edging up. @MDHealthDept reports the new cases per 100K pop is now at 11.81, a level not seen since 8/14. Hospitalizations are at 501, not seen since 8/11.

Rural counties are feeling the pinch. Dorchester reports nearly 36 new cases per 100,000 people, a positivity rate above 5% and an infection rate of 1.18, indicating the disease is rapidly transmitting.

Infection rates are an indication how many people to whom one infected person will likely transmit the virus. Below one is considered well-managed. Above one means the virus is spreading.

Baltimore City and Allegany Counties are also showing transmission rates above 1.1.

12 counties report a new cases per 100K population above 10.

If those counties were states, they would be included on a list that requires residents to quarantine for 14 days when traveling to NY, NJ and CT.

Maryland is on that list for the third time during the pandemic