Montgomery County and Maryland saw the most COVID-19 deaths in December since last February, according to county officials.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Manager Sean O’Donnell said the county saw 41 COVID-19 deaths last month, which is the highest number since the jurisdiction reported 73 deaths February of last year.
The county reported 30 deaths in November.
“As we’ve seen those increases [in COVID-19 hospitalizations], we have unfortunately seen increases also in the mortality data,” he said. “We had the most deaths here in Montgomery County and in the state since going back to last February when that initial Omicron affected us.”
According to state data, 27 flu-related deaths have been reported in Maryland during the 2022-23 flu season. O’Donnell noted the difference between that statewide number and the number of countywide deaths in one month from COVID-19.
“There’s a huge disparity in what COVID is doing,” O’Donnell said, which he said is why officials continue to recommend vaccines and mask-wearing when around high-risk individuals.
“The most important thing that we can be doing right now is getting your vaccine,” County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis said. She said the bivalent booster is available to everyone ages six months and up. The bivalent booster offers protection against the original version of COVID-19 as well as Omicron variants, particularly BA4 and BA5.
County Executive Marc Elrich said he continues to follow advice of health experts.
“They’ll let us know if we have to raise our defenses higher. We’re not there right now but we have the tools to protect ourselves,” namely vaccines and boosters, Elrich said. He added that the county recommends mask-wearing indoors.
The county remains at a medium community transmission level for COVID-19.
