City Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa said Baltimore has seen a significant increase in COVID-19 positivity rates so far this month.  

The latest seven-day average is 4.4%. 

“That is concerning given that probably back in September, we were around two and a half percent,” Dzirasa said at a press conference. 

The city is still meeting its goal of maintaining a positivity rate below 5%. 

As of this morning, she said, Baltimore’s COVID cases increased by about 83% over the past four weeks. 

Dzirasa also said there hasn’t been a decline in positivity rates or deaths over the past 14 days. 

She urged people to be especially careful as the holidays approach.  

“I know that we are all experiencing a bit of COVID fatigue. I also know how important it is to gather with your family,” she said. “But try to think of creative ways to still see your family -- maybe it’s virtual, it’s online or having that family call -- as opposed to meeting in person.” 

The U.S. reached a record number of at least 83,010 new daily cases on Oct. 23, according to the COVID Tracking Project.