MARYLAND — With the addition of 1,091 new confirmed cases in the past day, the Maryland Department of Health reported Thursday morning that 35,903 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
A total of 1,748 Marylanders have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, officials reported Thursday morning. An additional 118 have COVID-19 listed as a cause of death on their death certificates, authorities say, with test results pending.
Statewide, 1,538 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Thursday morning, 569 of them in the intensive care unit (ICU), health officials reported.
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Table by Patch. Data courtesy of Maryland Department of Health.
At a news conference Wednesday, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Stage One of his "Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery" plan would take effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15, with the lifting of the stay-at-home order. A safer at home public health advisory would take its place but jurisdictions may choose to keep restrictions if leaders determine that is necessary. County executives in Montgomery and Howard counties have already said they were not ready to reopen.
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The first phase of Hogan's recovery plan would allow for "certain types of businesses and lower-risk community, religious and quality-of-life activities" to resume, he said.
Effective Thursday, May 7, Hogan lifted restrictions on some services such as elective medical procedures, and he opened amenities such as beaches and playgrounds at state parks. Golf courses were able to reopen, and activities such as boating and fishing were again permitted.
Since the first confirmed cases of the virus in Maryland on March 5, authorities report 6,553 people have been hospitalized due to COVID-19. After having the virus, officials say 2,569 people in Maryland have been released from isolation.
So far, the state has reported 142,551 negative test results, an increase of 3,789 since the previous day.
Maryland has deployed teams to conduct universal testing for nursing home residents and staff and workers at Maryland’s two poultry processing plants. It has prioritized outbreaks and hot spots.
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, May 6.
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.
