Dear Loved Ones,The Delta and Omicron variants are fueling a significant increase in cases as we enter 2022. State hospitalization rates are up to where they were last April. Case rates are up in almost every county in Maryland. Statistically, very few breakthrough cases result in severe illness, but we have a number of people locally reporting a positive test with minor symptoms.
According to New York Times data released on January 4, 2022, cases have increased recently and are extremely high. The number of hospitalized Covid patients has remained at about the same level in the Cecil County area. Deaths have increased. The test positivity rate in Cecil County is very high, suggesting that cases are being significantly undercounted.
In response to Governor Hogan’s 30 day emergency COVID actions, we are taking steps to mitigate as much risk as possible with our in person worship. In discussions with Senior Warden, Bruce England, we believe that holding in person worship this week and next would be imprudent. Based on this, we will be Livestreaming our worship service at 10am on Sunday, and not have in-person services this week and next. We will only have in church, those people needed to conduct the service and support the Livestream.
Please continue to pray for an end to this virus. All will need to wear a mask when we meet again in person, and we will postpone intinction. I will keep you posted about resumption of in-person services.
I pray you and your family remain healthy.
Blessings,
Fr. John
Maryland data as of 1/3/2022
OVERALL COVID RISK- Severe
Severe
DAILY NEW CASES PER 100K-174.4
INFECTION RATE- Extreme
POSITIVE TEST RATE-24.4%
