Shot Hole, as this disease complex is called, is a common ailment of both Cherrylaurel and their Cherry tree relatives. Some years, the disease may be worse than others on its own, as weather plays a large role in spread and severity of infection. Drier conditions aid in suppression of pathogen spore survival. This current March is one of our driest on record, even with recent rains, so hopefully the incidence of disease will be lower.

We normally do not recommend spraying for disease control, partly due to the difficulty in timing such treatments appropriately, but if needed you can try to prevent additional spread by using a copper-based fungicide. This specific type of treatment has the ability to suppress bacterial as well as fungal pathogens; most other fungicide types are ineffective on bacteria. Since it's difficult to discern between pathogens for symptoms of Shot Hole, using one treatment to target both possible organisms is practical.

There are several products on the market that are copper-based, so read the labels to double-check that they are safe for use on Prunus and, ideally, also mention Shot Hole as one of the specific diseases affected. Follow the label instructions about application and timing of spray and how many treatments to make. As with any plant pathogen, treatments will not reverse existing damage, but should prevent damage from spreading to new, unaffected growth. Plants with damaged leaves will tend to shed them over time, particularly in spring as new foliage is about to emerge. Therefore, expect some continued leaf drop, even after spraying.

Going forward, clean-up any fallen Cherrylaurel leaves and dispose of them to minimize the spore population contributing to future infections. If you prefer not to spray, it's possible the disease will lessen and largely go away on its own in time.

https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/cherry-shot-hole-flowering-cherries (written for flowering Cherries, but these same organisms affect Cherrylaurel also)

https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2019/01/07/qa-whats-wrong-with-my-cherry-laurel-shrubs/

Miri