MARYLAND — Health officials say 34,061 people in Maryland have tested positive for the new coronavirus as of Tuesday, with 688 new cases confirmed in the past day.
So far, the state has reported 135,442 negative test results, an increase of 4,035 since the previous day.
A total of 1,643 Marylanders have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, officials reported Tuesday morning. An additional 113 have COVID-19 listed as a cause of death on their death certificates, authorities say, with test results pending.
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Statewide, 1,544 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Tuesday morning, 585 of them in the intensive care unit (ICU), health officials reported. Both hospitalizations and ICU patients were up since Monday, by 19 and five, respectively.
For the state to reopen, Gov. Larry Hogan has said coronavirus-related hospitalizations and ICU admissions need to trend down or level off.
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"If we did start to see a leveling trend in those metrics, we would be in position to begin stage one of the recovery plan," Hogan said last Wednesday at a news conference, where he announced the easing of restrictions on activities such as recreational boating and elective medical procedures.
Since the first confirmed cases of the virus in Maryland on March 5, authorities say 6,287 people have been hospitalized due to COVID-19. After having the virus, 2,394 people in Maryland have been released from isolation.
Strike teams were sent to conduct universal testing at nursing homes and to test those at two poultry processing plants. Officials said they were prioritizing outbreaks and hot spots.
Last week the state sent 3,128 tests to Maryland nursing homes, with 850 scheduled over the weekend, according to Mike Ricci, spokesman for the governor.
Testing Sites Across The State
The state is expanding testing for health care workers and first responders at local fire and EMS departments, and for health care workers at the Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Hogan announced Wednesday.
Symptoms of the new coronavirus can appear two to 14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which lists the following as possible indicators of the illness: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.
Health officials say most people with the virus will experience mild symptoms and can recover at home. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the CDC.
People should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if they have trouble breathing, bluish lips or face, new confusion or inability to arouse and/or persistent pain or pressure in the chest.
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