BALTIMORE (WJZ) – Maryland has reported 838 new cases of COVID-19 and eight new deaths, according to state health department data released Sunday morning.

The percentage of people who tested positive increased from 0.16% to 4.52%.

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Hospitalizations decreased from 17 to 603. Of those hospitalized, 427 adults are in acute care and 169 adults are in intensive care. Six children are in acute care and one in intensive care.

Doctors say the new cases are fueled by dangerous strains targeting the unvaccinated. At a press conference in August, Gov. Larry Hogan said the Delta variant, a strain believed to be two to four times more contagious than the original viral strain, accounts for nearly all new confirmed cases in Maryland.

“Vaccines are arguably our most effective tool in mitigating the threat of COVID-19 and the burgeoning Delta variant, and Maryland’s vaccination rate continues to outpace the nation,” Hogan said.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been a total of 580,496 confirmed cases and 10,915 deaths.

There are 4,077,493 fully vaccinated Marylanders. The state administered 9,313,997 doses. Of these, 4,275,898 are first doses of which 3,904 were administered in the last 24 hours. They administered 3,757,862 second doses, 3,308 on the last day.

“Thanks to the millions of people who have rolled up their sleeves, Maryland continues to be one of the most vaccinated states in America,” Governor Hogan said of the eight million mark. “We achieved these numbers thanks to a strong public health awareness, innovative lottery and scholarship promotions, and a relentless focus on fairness.”

Governor Hogan announced that 99.9% of the elderly in Maryland have now received at least one injection of the COVID-19 vaccine. Earlier this month, he said more than 50,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 had received a vaccine.

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On September 24, after the CDC granted final approval for the Pfizer recall, Governor Hogan announced immediate authorization of the recall for Marylanders who received their second injection of Pfizer at least six months ago. Hogan had already approved its use for vulnerable populations in early September.

The state administered 960,606 doses of additional or booster vaccines, including 3,576 on the last day.

The state reported that 88.5% of all adults in Maryland have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES:

By county

By age group and sex

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By race and ethnicity