BALTIMORE — The Maryland Department of Health is reporting 287 less COVID-19 cases and 27 less deaths at congregate facilities than this time last week.
As of June 3 -- 9,937 total cases of COVID-19 were reported including 1,386 deaths.
Of those 3,240 were staff cases, and the other 6,697 were residents. At the time, 18 staff members and 1,368 residents reportedly died.
On June 10, those confirmed cases inexplicably decreased to 9,650 including 1,359 deaths.
Of those four more staff cases were reported (3,244) and 291 less (6,406) resident cases were reported. One less staff death (17) was noted, while resident deaths decreased by 26 to 1,342.
If you go by the newest under reported totals, nursing home deaths account for 49.1% of the state's 2,750 COVID-19 casualties, whereas the June 3rd numbers show 50.4% of total deaths being attributed to those facilities.
One of the biggest outbreaks was at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy, which surpassed over 100 confirmed cases of the virus including nearly 30 deaths. But as of June 11, the state reported only three confirmed cases at the facility, two staff and one resident, with no deaths.
Governor Larry Hogan had previously ordered all nursing homes in the state to conduct universal testing and provide the results to the Maryland Department of Health.
RELATED: Hogan orders universal testing of all nursing home residents, staff
When asked for clarification on the drastic drop in numbers, Department of Health spokesman, Charles Gischlar offered the following statement.
"The Maryland COVID-19 in Congregate Living Facility dataset was created to provide point-in-time information about the presence of COVID-19 among Maryland's congregate living facilities. Over the last six weeks, the list has consistently shown both where COVID-19 is present and has provided historical context about the presence of COVID-19 among the facilities listed."
"The dataset is in part the product of facility reporting requirements, which were directed by Gov. Hogan and implemented by Sec. Neall. These reporting requirements were imposed to provide more timely communication with both MDH and the public about COVID-19 developments within nursing homes. The dataset is also informed by reporting from local health departments, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and the Department of Juvenile Services — all of which maintain a constant flow of COVID-19 case and death data that is collated by MDH and published to the dashboard weekly."
"All point-in-time numbers are captured as part of the daily statewide cumulative numbers for COVID-19 cases and deaths."
