26 Deaths From Virus Reported At 2 Harford County Facilities

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — State officials have released specifics on the number of coronavirus cases and deaths at nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Harford County and throughout Maryland. Three facilities in Harford County have reported cases of the coronavirus, an increase of one new facility since last week.

The new facility added to the list this week is Citizens Care in Havre de Grace, where one staff member tested positive.

In Harford County, officials say 174 residents and 62 staff of nursing homes and assisted living facilities have tested positive for the coronavirus.

A total of 26 residents have died in Harford County at these facilities, an increase of two in the past week.

The most deaths in the county have been at Bel Air Health and Rehabilitation Center, where 14 residents have died from the virus, according to state health officials.

Two people who died this week were at the Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center, which was the first facility in Harford County to experience an outbreak, in mid-April.

Here is a breakdown of the nursing home cases by facility in Harford County as of Wednesday, May 27:

Bel Air Health and Rehabilitation Center

• Staff cases: 31
• Resident cases: 85
• Resident deaths: 14

Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center - Havre de Grace

• Staff cases: 1

Forest Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center

• Staff cases: 30
• Resident cases: 89
• Resident deaths: 12

Data about coronavirus at congregate living facilities is updated weekly on Wednesdays by the Maryland Department of Health.

There are 801 confirmed cases of the virus in Harford County, 46 deaths and three suspected deaths. About 56 percent of the county's coronavirus deaths have been in nursing homes.

"Although everyone is at risk," Harford County Health Officer Russell Moy said this week before the County Council, he said the data confirms people what health experts have continued to say: Those who are older and with underlying conditions are most at risk of dying from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.

Here is the breakdown by age of those who have died in Harford County, Moy said Tuesday:

• 94 percent of deaths — Age 65 and up; 30 percent overall cases
• 6 percent of deaths — Age 18 to 64 years old; 69 percent overall cases
• No deaths — Age 18 and under; 1 percent overall cases

County Executive Barry Glassman cautioned those who are at risk to stay home.

"You may know that Gov. Hogan has lifted his Stay-at Home order," Glassman said. "If you have underlying health conditions, or you are over 65, you should remain home as much as possible."

Gov. Larry Hogan announced at the end of April that universal testing would be required at nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state.

"We will complete distribution of universal testing for nursing home residents and staff this month," Hogan said in a May 20 statement.

Nursing home and long-term care facilities in Maryland have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. While their residents and staff account for 19.2 percent of coronavirus cases in Maryland as of Wednesday, data shows they make up 56.8 percent of deaths.

See Also:

• Coronavirus In Nursing Homes: Cases In Forest Hill, Bel Air
• Coronavirus Reported At Bel Air Health And Rehabilitation Center
• Forest Hill Coronavirus Outbreak: 1 Dead, Several Infected