MD Passes 5,000 Coronavirus Deaths, Health Department Says

MARYLAND — More than 5,000 Marylanders have died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, officials say, after 61 deaths were attributed to coronavirus in the last day.

Since the pandemic began, 5,039 Marylanders have died from COVID-19, the Maryland Department of Health reported Tuesday, Dec. 15.

"One thousand of these deaths have taken place just since Oct. 31," Gov. Larry Hogan said in a statement. "While many of us have grown numb to the daily statistics, each of these deaths represents somebody's loved one, and each is a devastating loss for our state."

One of the state's first coronavirus vaccine recipients had a family member who died from COVID-19.

"My father ended up getting the virus and unfortunately passed away," said Daisy Solares, a respiratory therapist at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who got the vaccine along with four other front-line workers at the University of Maryland Medical System Monday. "It means a lot, basically in honor of him," she said of getting vaccinated.

Although passing the milestone of 5,000 deaths came the day after the first Marylanders were vaccinated, which Hogan called "a day of great hope," he said: "The weeks and months ahead may well be the most difficult we have experienced since the beginning of the pandemic."

Here is a time line of the state's COVID-19 deaths:

• The first coronavirus-related deaths in the state were reported March 18.
• By April 30, the state had seen 1,000 deaths from COVID-19.
• On May 20, Maryland reported more than 2,000 had died from COVID-19.
• As of June 25, Maryland reported over 3,000 deaths from the virus.
• On Oct. 31, officials said 4,000 people had died from COVID-19 in Maryland.

To honor loved ones who have passed or are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Howard County Library System and Initiative for Latin American Community Engagement are sponsoring a Remembrance Tree memorial project. People are invited to write messages of remembrance, connection and hope on ribbons or fabric, then hang them on the Remembrance Trees at each public library branch in Howard County. The effort will be capped off by a virtual community event Dec. 21.

Here is a look at Maryland's coronavirus data as of Tuesday, Dec. 15:

See Also:

• Maryland Hits New All-Time-High For Coronavirus Hospitalizations
• 5 Health-Care Workers In Maryland Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
• Prince George's Records Most Coronavirus-Related Deaths Since May
• Montgomery County Tops 400 New COVID-19 Cases For The 11th Time This Month
• 4,000 In Maryland Have Died From Coronavirus: Governor Hogan