VERIFY: Yes, Maryland's confirmed cases and death data wasn't updating for weeks at a time.

Due to a "network security incident" on December 4, some of the state's COVID statistics were out of date for weeks. The agency says state-wide data is now 90% current.

WASHINGTON — Since the beginning of the pandemic, decisions big and small have been guided by the numbers.

From determining public health policies to deciding whether or not to go to a party, people have come to rely on COVID-19 data that comes from local health departments.

A viewer reached out to the VERIFY team after noticing something unusual.

“Why have new cases and deaths not been reported for the past month in Maryland," the viewer asked in an email.

Let's VERIFY.

THE QUESTION:
Is it true that Maryland hasn’t been updating their COVID case and death data in December?

THE ANSWER:
It is true that some of MDH's COVID data took weeks to update—including daily case and death statistics—following a "network security incident." It took a few weeks, but as of Dec. 23, MDH says 90% of their website's statistics are up to date.

WHAT WE FOUND:

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/verify-maryland-confirmed-cases-death-data-updating-weeks-at-at-time/65-4b83306a-42a7-4e13-8656-70b5cd3cd5fe?