Maryland Coronavirus Test Is Negative: State Health Official

MARYLAND — The person tested for coronavirus in Maryland had negative results. There are currently six people in the United States who have tested positive for the virus, and none of them is in Maryland. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization on Thursday declared coronavirus an international public health emergency.

The new coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China. Researchers around the globe are still determining how the new virus spreads. Symptoms are fever, cough, difficulty breathing and pneumonia, resulting in anything from mild respiratory issues to death.

One person in Maryland met criteria for testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state health officials reported earlier this week.

The test came back negative, Maryland Department of Health spokeswoman Deidre McCabe told Patch Thursday afternoon.

The first case of human-to-human coronavirus transmission in the United States — affecting a patient in Illinois — was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ABC News reports that the person-to-person spread of the disease in the U.S. prompted WHO officials to issue the international alert.

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A total of six people in California, Arizona, Illinois and Washington have tested positive for coronavirus as of Thursday, according to federal health officials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory Monday urging those in the United States to avoid nonessential travel to China due to the spread of the virus.

Both Towson University and the University of Maryland have canceled trips to or programs in China until further notice, WJZ reported.

A Towson University professor came into contact with someone who was being tested for coronavirus, according to WJZ, which reported state health officials deemed the professor and the person being tested to be low-risk when it came to having the illness. It was not clear whether the Towson professor was connected to the person evaluated for coronavirus in Maryland.

People are usually symptomatic within two to 14 days of being exposed to the virus, for which there is no treatment.

The Maryland Department of Health will be updating its coronavirus page each morning, McCabe said, due to the ongoing concern.