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
At Shore Progress’s monthly meeting last week, the tension between national politics and local opportunity was on full display. With President Donald Trump escalating his attacks on offshore wind, representatives from US Wind and the Oceantic Network made their case directly to members gathered in Salisbury. From the outset, the presenters stressed the scale of what’s coming to the Eastern Shore. “This project is the equivalent of building two nuclear power plants off our coast,” US Wind representative Dave Wilson said, pointing to plans for 114 turbines and four offshore substations. Together, he said, the project will generate two net gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power approximately 26% of the homes in Maryland. The presentation walked members through the timeline: a four-phase buildout beginning in the southeast corner of the lease area, with each phase, including its own export cable, routed through Indian River Bay into the regional grid at the Indian River Power Plant in Delaware. Environmental safeguards on display Slides showed how US Wind plans to minimize negative effects on wildlife. The company will use an aircraft detection lighting system to keep turbines dark until a low-flying aircraft approaches, reducing night-sky light pollution. Marine protections include bubble curtains to dampen noise during pile driving, visual and acoustic monitoring for whales, and strict shutdown zones if animals enter construction areas. Lights will be on less than 1% of the time in any given year, underscoring their view that offshore wind can coexist with migratory birds, commercial fishing, and marine transit. Economic promise for the Shore The discussion turned quickly to what the project means locally. US Wind pledged hundreds of jobs for the Shore, with commitments to use union labor and partner with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. Officials noted that the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance has already received $700,000 from Maryland Works for Wind to build training programs, while community colleges are adjusting trade curricula to educate the next generation of turbine technicians. A planned operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City will house technicians and crew transfer vessels, bringing steady employment and infrastructure investment to the harbor. A national fight with local stakes The meeting didn’t shy away from politics. Several members noted Trump’s repeated attempts to derail offshore wind projects including his latest push to revoke US Wind’s federal permit. US Wind officials acknowledged that such lawsuits could delay progress but insisted that the project’s federal approvals are on solid ground. “This is the Eastern Shore's moment,” Shore Progress Chair Jared Schablein said, referring to a slide that showed more than $815 million in offshore wind investments statewide. “The question is whether politics will slow us down, or whether we keep building for the Shore’s future.” The presentation had a clear message: Offshore wind is not just about clean power, but also about jobs, investment, and opportunity for Eastern Shore families. Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.
Standing at the Legacy at Twin Rivers apartment community in Howard County, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order aimed at addressing his state’s deepening housing crisis. Titled Housing Starts Here, his order is designed to accelerate construction of affordable homes and cut through what Moore called years of “no and slow” decision-making in state housing policy. Maryland is facing a shortage of at least 96,000 housing units, according to state estimates, a gap that officials say has driven up prices, pushed families out of the state, and stifled economic growth. “Building pathways to wealth for Marylanders, creating jobs, attracting new businesses and residents, growing our economy, and securing our future all start with housing,” Moore said at the signing. “We need to be the state of yes and now.” Five guiding principles The executive order lays out five core priorities for state housing policy: Use state land for housing . Agencies must identify surplus properties and land near transit stations that can be converted into new housing developments. Cut red tape. State permitting processes will be streamlined, with new rules allowing third-party reviewers to accelerate approvals. Strengthen partnerships. A new State Housing Ombudsman will serve as a liaison to help coordinate projects between state agencies, local governments, and developers. Set clear goals. By January 2026, the state will publish housing production targets for each county and update them every five years. Incentivize affordable housing. Jurisdictions that meet housing targets or pass pro-housing policies will be recognized with new Maryland Housing Leadership Awards, making them more competitive for state funding. Speed as the priority State officials said the new framework is focused on cutting delays that can hold back projects for years. By digitizing applications, engaging multiple agencies simultaneously, and allowing outside reviewers, the state aims to expedite project completion while upholding environmental and community standards. What could this mean for us on the Eastern Shore? Moore acknowledged that housing affordability consistently ranks as Marylanders’ No. 1 concern. For young people in particular, high costs and long commutes are major reasons they leave the state. The order seeks to reverse that trend, tying housing growth to job creation and transit access. On the Eastern Shore , where rental availability and starter homes are limited, Moore’s order could open opportunities for mixed-use, transit-oriented projects on state-owned land, as well as accelerate approval for affordable housing initiatives backed by nonprofits and local developers. What comes next The Department of Housing and Community Development will publish the state’s first set of production targets by Jan. 1, 2026, followed by annual progress reports starting in 2027. Agencies have until March 2026 to implement many of the new permitting and funding acceleration rules. Moore framed the executive order as a generational investment. “Making housing more affordable is not just about building shelter, it’s about building a legacy,” he said.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) has intensified her calls for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down, releasing a detailed report that she says proves his tenure has been a disaster for American families. The first senator to demand Kennedy’s resignation in May, Alsobrooks joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in unveiling a 54-page report that chronicles what they describe as the “costly, chaotic, and corrupt” record of Kennedy’s first 203 days at the department. Released before Kennedy’s Senate hearing last week, the report outlines examples of alleged mismanagement for each day since he was sworn in on Feb. 13. “Robert Kennedy’s tenure as America’s chief health officer has been higher costs, more chaos, and boundless corruption,” Wyden said. “His actions are endangering children, leaving parents confused and scared, and forcing families and taxpayers to pay more for their health care.” Echoing that assessment, Alsobrooks cited testimony from scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland who she says have watched critical cancer research grind to a halt under Kennedy’s leadership. “His actions are increasing Americans’ health care costs, causing chaos, and furthering the Trump administration’s endless stream of corruption,” she said. The report argues that Kennedy has: Driven up costs by backing the Trump administration’s budget plan, which Alsobrooks says strips health coverage from 15 million Americans while handing tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. Created chaos by dismantling HHS programs, undermining research institutions, and promoting vaccine misinformation. Engaged in corruption by using the office to advance personal and family financial interests, particularly around limiting vaccine access. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, praised Alsobrooks’ leadership. “President Trump and Senate Republicans made a grievous error when entrusting Kennedy with our nation’s health,” the group said in. “It is far past time that President Trump rectifies this error by firing Kennedy before more lives are unnecessarily put at risk.” Alsobrooks appeared on the Morning Joe TV show on to discuss the findings and to reiterate her demand that Kennedy resign or be removed. “This is about protecting families and protecting science,” she said. “Our nation’s health system cannot afford another day under Robert Kennedy’s reckless watch.” As a community organizer, journalist, administrator, project planner/manager, and consultant, Gren Whitman has led neighborhood, umbrella, public interest, and political committees and groups, and worked for civil rights and anti-war organizations.
Wicomico County leaders have announced plans to move forward with the federal government’s controversial 287(g) program, entering into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would deputize local officers to serve immigration warrants inside the county jail. Under the model selected, known as the Warrant Service Officer program, specially trained deputies at the detention center would be allowed to serve civil immigration warrants on individuals already in custody. County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis emphasized that deputies would not conduct street-level immigration enforcement. “Public safety is our top responsibility,” Giordano said. “The Warrant Service Officer program provides our sheriff’s office with the tools they need to address individuals already in custody who may pose a risk to our community at no additional cost to the county.” Lewis added that the program “gives our deputies the ability to safely and lawfully carry out their duties while ensuring that Wicomico County remains a secure place to live, work, and raise a family.” Community pushback The announcement drew swift opposition from civil rights and community organizations, including the ACLU of Maryland, the Wicomico NAACP, and local grassroots groups such as Crabs on the Shore, who have warned that the agreement will harm immigrant families, sow fear, and erode trust between residents and law enforcement. Opponents also criticized the process, arguing that the decision was rushed through without meaningful public input despite repeated calls for hearings. “This is being framed as an administrative detail, but it has huge consequences for our neighbors,” one advocate said. Concerns about cost and precedent Supporters of the WSO model have emphasized that the partnership comes “at no additional cost” to Wicomico taxpayers, but critics point out that other jurisdictions have found otherwise. Anne Arundel County canceled its own 287(g) agreement, citing high costs and community backlash. The Camden Police Department in Delaware withdrew from a similar partnership after public protests in May. Advocates note that the federal government does not fully reimburse counties for the time, training, and legal exposure associated with 287(g) programs, leaving local taxpayers to shoulder hidden expenses. First on Delmarva If finalized, Wicomico County would become the first government or police agency on the Delmarva Peninsula to formally enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Supporters say that distinction demonstrates a commitment to accountability and public safety. Opponents warn it risks branding the county as hostile to immigrant communities that have long been central to the Shore’s workforce, particularly in poultry processing and agriculture. The county’s decision comes amid a broader national debate about local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, with critics warning that partnerships like 287(g) make communities less safe by discouraging victims and witnesses from coming forward. For now, the final agreement is pending federal approval. But with strong opposition already mobilized, the fight over Wicomico’s new partnership is likely only beginning.
Wicomico County Republicans have moved forward with an agreement to join the federal 287(g) program, aligning the county with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis are backing the program to train county officers at the detention center to help ICE identify non-citizens for deportation proceedings. The agreement has triggered strong pushback from immigrant advocates, civil rights groups, and community leaders who warn that this partnership will erode trust between residents and law enforcement, risk racial profiling, and allot local tax dollars to assist federal immigration enforcement. Yet amid the growing controversy, the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee has issued no response to the ICE agreement, even as residents voice frustration that the Democratic establishment’s silence has ceded the conversation to Republicans. Moreover, the Central Committee has remained silent with regard to recent comments by Democratic Councilwoman April Jackson, who told the Washington Post that the poultry industry should reduce its reliance on immigrant workers. Jackson also said, “a lot of Americans aren’t employed because the Haitians are taking our jobs.” Jackson’s remarks have drawn widespread criticism from immigrant advocates. For many residents, the Democratic leadership’s silence is as much of a concern as the county government’s new partnership with ICE. As the county waits for federal approval of the 287(g) agreement, the absence of a Democratic counterweight has left immigrant families and community organizers to carry the opposition on their own.
With speculation mounting that Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-37A) may run for County Executive for Wicomico County in 2026, the longtime Eastern Shore lawmaker will headline a Community Conversation in Dorchester County on Sept. 17 at 6 pm. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Democrats, the event will give residents the opportunity to hear Sample-Hughes speak about local priorities — schools, public safety, health care access, and economic development in the mid-Shore. Sample-Hughes, former Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates, has represented portions of Wicomico and Dorchester counties for more than a decade. Her record includes bipartisan work on district projects, as well as efforts to expand health services and invest in infrastructure. Although organizers emphasize that the Sept. 17 gathering is not a campaign event, the timing has fueled interest. Political observers note that any appearance by Sample-Hughes will be closely watched as Democrats weigh potential challengers for County Executive in the upcoming cycle. The forum will include remarks from the delegate, followed by a question-and-answer session. Seating is available first-come, first-served and residents from across the Shore are encouraged to attend. Key details What: Community Conversation with Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes When: Sept. 17, 6 pm Where: Dorchester County, venue to be announced by organizers. Format: Remarks followed by audience Q&A Before her election to the House of Delegates, Sample-Hughes served on the Wicomico County Council. Should she enter the county executive race, many believe she would be a serious challenger to Republican incumbent Julie Giordano.
