Covid-19 Cases Increase Sharply on the Eastern Shore, Throughout Maryland, and Across the World
Jane Jewell • November 24, 2020
It’s not a pretty picture these days. Covid-19 is on the rise everywhere — all across the world — giving full meaning to the term “pandemic.” Unfortunately, the United States and the world are now in the scenario predicted last spring by practically every medical expert everywhere — a larger, even worse wave of covid-19 as the cooler weather of fall and winter set in. Here in the U.S., all significant indicators — new cases, positivity rates, and hospitalizations — are going up. The worst hotspots in the U.S. are now in the western and midwestern states, but Maryland and its Eastern Shore are also seeing sharp increases.
To better allow comparison, the rates reported here are for the average number of new cases over the seven days ending Saturday, Nov. 21, and are adjusted per 100,000 population.
As of Nov. 21, of all the 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, North Dakota had the highest weekly rate of new cases at 176.5 per 100,000. Wyoming and South Dakota were the second and third highest with similar new-case rates of 142.9 and 141.2. Minnesota at 125 and Nebraska at 123.6 were fourth and fifth.
Five other states also had rates over 100 — Iowa, Montana, Wisconsin, Utah, and New Mexico — for a total of 10 states averaging over 100 new cases per day. Two weeks ago there were only three states with rates over a 100, and the highest rate then was North Dakota at 136. Now the highest is 176.5 and rising. Nationwide, the average number of new cases per day has increased 67 percent from the average two weeks ago. Covid-19 is surging at an alarming rate across America.
Further down the list as the 22nd and 23rd highest rates, Tennessee and Kentucky had almost identical new-case-per-day rates of 63.1 and 63.2. Their nearby neighbor to the north, Ohio, was just a little bit higher at 64.6. However, Ohio’s nextdoor neighbor to the west, Indiana, was almost 50 percent higher at a rate of 97.2 new cases per day.
Keep in mind that these statistics are all very fluid. It takes only a few days to a week or so for a town or county to go from a low rate to a high rate. About a month ago, Indiana and Maryland had nearly the same new-case rates. Both states have seen increases since then but Indiana’s rate has grown much faster, and on Saturday was at 97.2, almost three times Maryland’s rate of 35.6. This virus is very contagious and fast moving. By the time you read this, numbers will be different everywhere with states — as well as counties within states — constantly trading places on the list of places with the highest case rates.
Maryland’s new-case rate of 35.6 as of Nov. 21 may look good compared to other states. On Saturday, Maryland ranked 38th highest rate among the 56 states and territories. North Dakota’s rate is five times higher. But Maryland is only good in comparison to the states that are currently worse off. The Maryland rate is actually very troubling. Just a few weeks ago, Maryland’s rate was under 20. This Nov. 21 rate represents a sharp increase of 110 percent over the previous two weeks. That’s over twice as many people per day diagnosed with covid-19 as during the previous two weeks. Officials are worried that Maryland is headed in the same direction as the current hotspots. Hospitals in some areas of the state are beginning to feel the pressure.
Much of Maryland’s increase has been on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay with Allegany County as the state’s main hotspot. Allegany had a rate of 145.3 on Nov. 21 — more than double its rate at the end of October. That’s higher than the entire state of Indiana and over four times the Maryland average of 35.6. In fact, if Allegany were a state rather than a county, it would have the second highest covid-19 rate in the U.S., right after North Dakota. Allegany’s rate was almost 50 percent higher than Garrett, the second highest Maryland county at 101.9.
As a whole, the Eastern Shore of Maryland is a mixed bag. Earlier in the fall, the Eastern Shore had a number of hotspots and some of the highest rates in the state. This was especially true for nursing homes as well as crowded meat and poultry processing plants. Since then, all Eastern Shore counties have seen increases in their rates but many other counties have increased faster and now have higher rates. In fact, four of the five lowest rates in the state were Eastern Shore counties. These were Caroline (19.7), Talbot (16.9), Kent (16.2), and Dorchester (15.2). The lowest rate was on the Western Shore in Calvert (15.2).
On the other hand, the third highest rate in the state was 59.7 in Somerset County on the Eastern Shore. While still significantly below Allegany and Garrett counties, Somerset’s rate has more than doubled from what it was at the end of October.
But, as noted before, these rates can change quickly. It’s a roller-coaster ride with hotspots cropping up rapidly in one place, then another.
All of this has resulted in Gov. Larry Hogan tightening the covid-19 restrictions in Maryland. Beginning Nov. 10, new regulations limited indoor gatherings to 25 people and returned all governmental offices to mandatory work-at-home status. Starting Nov. 11, all bars and restaurants can operate at only 50 percent capacity — reduced from 75 percent — and must comply with distanced servicing rules for both customers and staff.
Then on Nov. 20, more restrictions were added, including several to address the special problems of hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical facilities. For the complete text of Maryland’s Nov.10 and Nov. 20 Emergency Orders regarding covid-19, click on the links at the end of this article.
Effective Nov. 20, all bars, restaurants, and other businesses with indoor seating for food and alcohol must close between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Carryout and delivery services may continue. Retail and religious facilities must reduce capacity to 50 percent. No spectators will be allowed at any racetracks or at any professional, school, or other stadium events.
Until further notice, the emergency order prohibits all hospital visitation with some exceptions — including end-of-life care, obstetrics, parents or guardians of minors, and support for people with disabilities. Also, visitation at Maryland nursing homes is limited to compassionate care only, and all visitors must have proof of a negative covid-19 test result within 72 hours before visiting.
Hogan stated that if we want to bring covid-19 under control in Maryland, officials, inspectors, etc., will need to start cracking down on places and persons not complying with these necessary regulations. “We are in a war right now, and the virus is winning,” he said.
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Maryland State and County Covid-19 Statistics as of Nov. 21
The first chart below from the New York Times shows the case rates since the beginning of the pandemic and the daily average of new cases for the week ending Nov. 21. All rates are adjusted per 100,000 population.
Source of above chart: New York Times Covid-19 Interactive Database
The next four charts from the Maryland Department of Health show the total numbers of cases (not rates) and related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 and include data by age, gender, and ethnicity.
Source of the above four charts of raw numbers by county, age, gender, and ethnicity: Maryland State Coronavirus Website
Maryland State Emergency Order on Covid-19, Nov 20, 2020
Maryland State Emergency Order on Covid-19, Nov 10, 2020
Jane Jewell is a writer, editor, photographer, and teacher. She has worked in news, publishing, and as the director of a national writer's group. She lives in Chestertown with her husband Peter Heck, a ginger cat named Riley, and a lot of books.
Common Sense for the Eastern Shore
The Republican Congress and President Trump are causing a health care crisis and Democrats are trying to fix it. Passed in July, the GOP budget reconciliation bill is drastically cutting health insurance programs to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Rep. Andrew P. Harris (R-MD01) voted for the budget reconciliation bill. He voted, knowing that his vote would mean that health care costs would rise for 25,000 of his constituents in Maryland’s First Congressional District:
Efforts by the Trump administration to delay a critical court case over Maryland’s offshore wind project have failed, marking another setback in the president’s campaign to block renewable energy development along the East Coast. On Oct. 2, U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher denied a motion filed by the Department of Justice to pause an ongoing lawsuit involving US Wind’s proposed 114-turbine wind farm off Ocean City. The administration had argued that the federal government’s shutdown prevents its attorneys from continuing the case. The judge’s swift rejection ensures that the litigation and progress on one of Maryland’s most significant clean energy projects will continue. Initially filed by Ocean City officials and a small group of residents nearly a year ago, the suit challenges the federal approval of US Wind’s project, which would deliver enough clean electricity to power more than 700,000 homes. Under the Biden administration, the federal government had defended the project in partnership with US Wind. That stance was reversed after Trump took office earlier this year and installed officials hostile to offshore wind. In September, the Trump administration filed a separate motion seeking to vacate federal approval for the Maryland project altogether, a move widely condemned by environmental advocates, labor groups, and business leaders who see offshore wind as a cornerstone of Maryland’s energy and economic future. US Wind responded forcefully to the shutdown motion, warning the court that the administration’s attempts to delay proceedings could allow it to undermine the project’s approval behind the scenes quietly. The company argued that halting the case would create “existential risks” for the future of Maryland’s offshore wind industry. Judge Gallagher agreed that the case should move forward, setting the next status hearing for Oct. 7. The Trump administration’s repeated efforts to obstruct offshore wind development come as Maryland and other states have invested heavily in building the infrastructure, workforce, and port facilities needed to anchor the growing clean energy industry. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has championed the sector as a key driver for well-paying jobs and long-term economic resilience for the Eastern Shore. Supporters of US Wind point out that the project will bring over $1 billion in investment to Maryland, generate thousands of construction and maintenance jobs, and help deliver cleaner, more affordable energy to homes and businesses across the region. “Offshore wind isn’t just about turbines, it’s about jobs, innovation, and independence,” one clean energy advocate said after the ruling. “Every delay costs working Marylanders opportunity, and this decision ensures progress continues.” While the broader lawsuit over the project’s approval is ongoing, the latest ruling represents a clear win for those fighting to keep Maryland’s offshore wind future on track — and a blow to Trump’s attempt to turn back the clock on clean energy.
Maryland has eight congressional districts, and the seats for all but District 01 are filled by Democrats. As we well know, the First District representative is a Republican — Andrew P. Harris. Here’s what Maryland’s congressional district map is now.
With standing room only at Salisbury’s Historic Poplar Hill Mansion, and blending policy, community service, and grassroots energy, Megan Outten launched her campaign for Wicomico County Council District 7 before almost 100 supporters on Oct. 4. The event drew community residents, labor leaders, and local officials, many of whom also helped to pack nearly 300 care kits for Wicomico residents in need. The community service effort doubled as a campaign statement about what Outten calls “choosing connection over convenience.” District 7 is one of Wicomico’s newly drawn single-member districts, with a Democratic advantage of 7.7%. Outten recalled her family’s history of service in Fruitland and Salisbury. “Service isn’t just politics in my family,” she said. “It’s how you belong to a place. It’s how you prove you care.” She pointed to the county’s landfill crisis, water and septic system failures, and school underfunding as examples of leadership that reacts rather than plans. “This is what happens when leaders only react after things break,” she said. “It costs us more. It hurts families. It robs our kids of the future they deserve.” Outten was joined by several local leaders who offered strong endorsements and reflections on her record. AFSCME Local 3 Eastern Shore representative Jack Hughes praised her leadership on the Salisbury City Council, crediting her with helping pass the Eastern Shore’s first municipal labor code, a significant win for city workers and first responders. Councilman Josh Hastings, who represents the district and is running for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 38B, said Outten would be “crucial in carrying forward the progress we’ve made” on clean water, schools, and infrastructure planning. Whitney Snowden-Olanrewaju from Blending Cultures, a non-profit organization that promotes diversity and equality, spoke about Outten’s record of community inclusion and bridge-building across diverse groups. Outten’s campaign is expected to roll out additional endorsements in the coming weeks. In her speech, she outlined a platform focused on fully funding schools, investing in infrastructure before it fails, and ensuring that county government works for everyone. “This campaign is not mine,” she told the crowd. “It’s ours. I am not standing above you. I am standing with you. And together, we will put Wicomico families first.” With enthusiasm, endorsements, and her message that’s focused on service and accountability, Outten’s kickoff reinforced that District 7 is already shaping up to have a strong favorite in 2026.
Community Rallies After Theft of Car Containing Hundreds of Care Kits for Wicomico Residents in Need
An act of inhumanity in Salisbury has sparked an outpouring of compassion. Early on Oct. 5, community organizer Jared Schablein’s car was stolen from his backyard. Inside the vehicle were hundreds of care kits assembled just days earlier during Megan Outten’s Wicomico County Council District 7 campaign kickoff event. Packed by volunteers at Salisbury’s Poplar Hill Mansion, the kits contained feminine hygiene products, socks, and toiletries meant for Wicomico County residents facing housing insecurity. “Those kits were meant for neighbors in need,” said Schablein. “If nothing else, I hope whoever took them returns them. Getting those care kits to the folks who need them matters more to me than anything else.” Schablein and Outten have turned the theft into action, launching a new effort called the “Care Kits Comeback Drive.” The event, scheduled for Oct. 12 at 2pm at Poplar Hill Mansion, aims to replace every lost kit, and more. Volunteers are asked to bring or donate items such as sanitary wipes, socks, toothpaste, period products, and underwear. Donations will support the Wicomico County Library, Help and Outreach Point of Entry, and other local service organizations. In announcing the new drive, Schablein emphasized the deeper meaning behind the effort: “When acts of inhumanity happen, the best response is acts of humanity. We’re showing that Salisbury’s compassion can’t be stolen.” Despite the setback, organizers say community support has been overwhelming. Donations began arriving within hours of the announcement, and several local groups have offered to distribute supplies once the new kits are complete. The theft is still under investigation by the Salisbury Police Department. As one volunteer put it at the last event, “Community isn’t guaranteed, it’s built.” This Sunday, Salisbury will build it again.
What began as a grassroots campaign to preserve a parcel of local land has become one of the most inspiring community movements on the Eastern Shore. Led by residents James and Mikele Dahlen and Holly Campbell, alongside dozens of volunteers, the Save Connelly Mill Park effort reached a significant milestone last week as Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz toured the site with local and state officials to explore opportunities for partnership and permanent protection. On Sept. 23, citizens gathered at Connelly Mill Park with a delegation of state and county leaders, including Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, Del. Barry Beauchamp, County Council President John Cannon, Vice President Jeff Merritt, Councilman James Winn, and local municipal representatives from Delmar and Salisbury. The tour marked the strongest signal to date that the state may play an active role in turning the park’s long-promised vision into reality. Advocates for Save Connelly Mill Park presented Kurtz with a booklet outlining the site’s environmental, historical, and economic importance. The presentation highlighted Connelly Mill’s potential to become a keystone of Wicomico’s park system — protecting the Paleochannel aquifer, preserving wildlife habitats, and providing much-needed green space for recreation and community gathering. Located just five miles from Salisbury, the 234-acre property has rolling forest, wetlands, and unique topography that advocates say could one day make it the “Central Park of Wicomico County.” “The natural beauty of Connelly Mill spoke for itself,” said one organizer after the event. “What we have here is not just land, it’s a promise to future generations.” Adding to the momentum, the community’s advocacy materials were presented directly to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore the next day at the Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield, where he was briefed on the citizens’ efforts and growing local support. The proposed park would provide walking trails, open space for families, and educational opportunities while safeguarding vital water resources and promoting mental, physical, and social well-being for county residents. For many, the movement to save Connelly Mill has come to represent more than just one park. It’s about accountability, long-term planning, and ensuring public commitments to community spaces are kept. “We’re not out of the woods yet,” the group shared in a recent update. “But the spotlight is on Connelly Mill, and the momentum is growing.” As the state evaluates whether to designate Connelly Mill as a Partnership Park, supporters say they will continue to meet with officials and rally community engagement to ensure this once-forgotten project finally fulfills its promise. If realized, Connelly Mill would not only protect vital natural resources — it would stand as testament to what determined citizens can build when they refuse to give up.
