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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Anthony G. Brown released the following statement after Maryland announced the largest one-day increase in positive COVID-19 cases, and Governor Hogan announced new COVID-19 testing sites would be opening soon in both Hyattsville and Clinton in Prince George’s County:

“Prince George’s County has been asking for more help with testing for months, but was forced to fend for itself - working with Montgomery County and private labs to increase testing capacity. Announcing new testing sites after the state reopens, is frankly too little too late.  It is becoming more apparent,  we reopened the state without sufficient testing - especially in our hardest hit communities.” 

“The positive infection rate in Maryland remains unacceptably high and means we are still not testing enough. Maryland’s near 25 percent rate of positive results suggests a long road ahead. We must aggressively expand testing throughout the state to give health officials a better understanding of the infection rate outside of our sickest residents, and to really contain this pandemic. The situation on the ground must match our rhetoric and decisions in order to protect public health.”

On May 19th, Maryland reported 1,784 new infections, 7,152 daily tests and a 24.94 percent positive rate. Maryland is consistently among the top 5 states in both new infections, and positive infection rates. 

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