Baltimore Coronavirus: 3 Deaths; Nursing Home Cases Probed

BALTIMORE, MD — Three women have died from the new coronavirus in Baltimore City, where data show cases have surged in recent days. So far, 265 people have tested positive for the virus in Baltimore as of Thursday, a little more than two weeks after the city's first case was confirmed.

"We need all residents to do their part and stay home if you do not need to go out," Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young said. "This is our chance to save our city ... Staying at home is literally saving lives."

A Baltimore woman in her 70s died from the virus, the mayor reported Tuesday. She was the third resident to die from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Over the weekend, officials reported a woman in her 60s and a woman in her 80s, both of whom suffered from underlying medical conditions, also died from the virus.

"This is a tragic reminder of the dangers associated with COVID-19," Young said this week.

Among the 265 confirmed to have the virus are multiple nursing home residents in Baltimore. In addition, multiple public safety workers have tested positive and so have those associated with schools and mail distribution facilities.

Five coronavirus cases have been confirmed at the FutureCare Cold Spring, Baltimore Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa, M.D., said Wednesday. Two of the patients were hospitalized from the comprehensive rehabilitation facility in the 4700 block of Harford Road, she said. State and local health officials are tracing those with whom the ill had contact.

Multiple cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital in the 2400 block of West Belvedere Avenue, the health commissioner said Wednesday, stating additional results were pending. According to WBAL, three patients in the subacute rehabilitation part of the facility were diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and a fourth was in the specialty hospital.

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A correctional officer from the Metropolitan Transition Center, a pretrial detention center, has tested positive for the virus, WBAL reported Thursday, and the facility has been quarantined.

Two Baltimore City Public Schools personnel have contracted the virus, according to authorities. Someone described as an "individual supporting Steuart Hill Academic Academy," on Gilmor Street, tested positive for the virus, authorities said Wednesday. "Once the person's condition was known, [the individual] immediately ceased contact with the campus," according to Baltimore City Public Schools. An employee from Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School contracted the virus three days after schools were closed, Baltimore City Public Schools said in a statement Sunday, March 29.

At the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office, two deputies who work in evictions tested positive for the virus, The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday. After their family members also tested positive and the officers did not exhibit symptoms, the newspaper reported they continued going to work. Since the deputies have tested positive, Courthouse East is reportedly being deep cleaned.

Three first responders tested positive for the virus, including two EMS providers and one officer with the Baltimore Police Department, authorities reported Thursday, March 26. Since then, one fire station had service suspended for a thorough cleaning. Nearly 20 recruits at the fire academy were told to self-quarantine because one of the recruits exhibited symptoms, Baltimore Fire Chief Niles Ford reported Tuesday, March 31.

Although only one officer had tested positive for the virus, Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison reported Tuesday that 39 officers had self-quarantined for different reasons, including international travel and exposure to someone with the virus. The commissioner emphasized the officers were self-quarantining "for different reasons, not because they were symptomatic."

One U.S. Postal Service worker tested positive for the virus from the Brooklyn post office and an employee at the Dundalk post office has also tested positive, WMAR reported Wednesday.

An Amazon worker at a fulfillment center in the Baltimore area has COVID-19, the company confirmed to WJZ Monday night, declining to specify the location of the facility where the person was employed. Officials said those with whom the infected person had contact have been told to self-quarantine for two weeks. The news station later reported the facility was in Sparrows Point, in Baltimore County.

Related:

• 2 Baltimore Women Die From Coronavirus: Mayor
• 3 First Responders Test Positive For Coronavirus: Mayor
• 2 Employees, 1 Inmate Positive For Coronavirus: MD Corrections
• Cherry Hill School Employee Has Coronavirus: Officials
• Baltimore Bus Driver Tests Positive For Coronavirus: MTA