ICU Patients Up; Stay-At-Home Orders Issued In 4 MD Jurisdictions

MARYLAND — With the addition of 1,083 new confirmed cases in the past day, the Maryland Department of Health is reporting Friday morning that 36,986 people statewide have tested positive for the new coronavirus. So far the state has reported 145,840 negative test results, an increase of nearly 3,300 since the previous day.

Two jurisdictions — Montgomery and Prince George's counties — account for half the state's confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Friday, according to the Maryland Department of Health. They also account for almost 45 percent of the state's deaths from the virus.

A total of 1,792 Marylanders have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, officials reported Friday morning. An additional 119 have COVID-19 listed as a cause of death on their death certificates, authorities say, with test results pending.

Effective at 5 p.m. Friday, May 15, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan will lift his stay-at-home order, replacing it with a safer at home public health advisory.

Leaders in Prince George's, Montgomery and Charles counties are urging their residents to stay at home except for essential travel, and so is Baltimore City.

Hogan has said his recovery plan for the state allows local leaders flexibility in determining when to reopen.

Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks signed a local stay-at-home order effective through Monday, June 1. In Prince George's County alone, nearly 10,800 people have tested positive for the virus.

"We need you to please continue to stay home, except for essential activities like going to the grocery store and picking up medications," Alsobrooks said Thursday. Before reopening, she said Prince George's County needed to replenish its supply of personal protective equipment, increase coronavirus testing, hire contact tracers, have more hospital beds available in the event of a surge, and see a decline in deaths and new cases.

In Montgomery County, where almost 8,000 people have tested positive for the virus, the county executive extended the local stay-at-home order until several benchmarks — such as a 14-day period with decreasing numbers of cases — are met.

Other areas, such as Carroll and Harford counties — which have fewer than 700 confirmed cases of the virus in their jurisdictions — are reopening to the fullest extent permitted by the governor.

Starting 5 p.m. on Friday, Hogan said retail businesses in Maryland could reopen at 50 percent capacity with safety precautions, manufacturing could resume, religious organizations could hold services at 50 percent capacity, and some personal services like hair salons could reopen at 50 percent capacity and by appointment only.

For the latest developments on the coronavirus in Maryland, get Patch news alerts.

Statewide 1,496 people are hospitalized with the virus as of Friday morning, health officials say, down from 1,538 on Thursday. Admissions are up on the intensive care unit, where 598 are being treated for the coronavirus versus 569 the previous day, according to authorities.

Since the first confirmed cases of the virus in Maryland on March 5, officials say 6,679 people have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 and 2,685 people in Maryland have been released from isolation.

Coronavirus in Maryland: A Snapshot

Here is a look at Maryland's coronavirus numbers as of Friday, May 15:

Case Count By ZIP Code

These are the ZIP codes with the highest coronavirus case counts in Maryland Friday:

• 1,333 cases — ZIP code 20783 (Prince George's County)
• 803 cases — ZIP code 20906 (Montgomery County)
• 736 cases — ZIP code 20706 (Prince George's County)
• 694 cases — ZIP code 20902 (Montgomery County)
• 616 cases — ZIP code 20784 (Prince George's County
• 597 cases — ZIP code 20904 (Montgomery County)
• 595 cases — ZIP code 21224 (Baltimore City/Baltimore County)
• 587 cases — ZIP code 20782 (Prince George's County)
• 524 cases — ZIP code 20903 (Montgomery County)
• 497 cases — ZIP code 21215 (Baltimore City/Baltimore County)

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Jurisdiction

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Age And Gender

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Race And Ethnicity

Coronavirus At Group Living Facilities

Data about coronavirus at congregate living facilities is updated weekly on Wednesdays.

Here are the numbers as of Friday, May 15:

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.

See a list of testing sites in Maryland.

COVID-19 Symptoms

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, muscle pain, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.

The CDC has an online self-checker tool for those concerned they may have the virus.

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.

See Also:

• Some Jurisdictions To Reopen As Hogan Lifts Stay-At-Home Order
• PG County Stay-At-Home Order Extended By 2 Weeks
• Stay-At-Home Order Remains In Baltimore: Mayor
• HoCo RISE Maps Out Reopening Guidelines
• Baltimore County Opens Some Businesses, Others Stay Closed
• Harford County Executive Follows Governor's Lead In Reopening
• Guidelines To Reopen Anne Arundel County Take Effect Friday