Baltimore City COVID Cases Growing At Higher Rate Than Maryland, U.S; Officials Attribute Rise To Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore City officials attribute a spike in COVID-19 cases to Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X residents. During a press conference Thursday, officials said the city's coronavirus case rate is higher than the case rate for Maryland and the U.S.
Health Commissioner Dr. Letitia Dzirasa said the city's most recent cases are among younger residents and for the first time ever, residents ages 70 or over have the lowest rate of cases.
That's because 27% of residents 60 and older are fully vaccinated, Dr. Dzirasa said.
"When we take a look at the age breakdown of COVID-19 cases," Dr. Dzirasa said. "We can see differences and how the vaccines are affecting the health of our residents."
Officials said 27% of residents 60 and older are fully vaccinated.
"We know that there's been COVID fatigue, we know that people want to spend time with their families, we know that there's been an increased mobility, people are moving about as if there is no longer pandemic," Dr. Dzirasa said.
Beginning in early March, ages 20 to 29 and 40 to 49 are seeing the largest growth in coronavirus cases. They are also seeing more hospitalizations among younger residents as well.
Mayor Brandon Scott said that could be because the new COVID-19 variants are making younger people sicker.
City officials are reminding residents to follow COVID safety protocols, like mask wearing and social distancing, and only gather with friends or family indoors if you're all vaccinated.
"Everyone has COVID fatigue," Mayor Scott said. "We know the weather is getting better, but it is not the time to be reckless, it is not the time to be stupid, to be quite frank, and go and be in places in unsafe ways."
To help get people residents of all ages vaccinated faster, the city has launched a one-stop-shop to help with vaccination pre-registration at covax.baltimorecity.gov.
The city is now using this portal for all registration for the coronavirus vaccine rather than separating it by age. The state and city is in phase 2b of the vaccination plan and on April 27 vaccine eligibility will be open to all Marylanders over the age of 16.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
