Harford County Coronavirus Count Rises To 5 Cases

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Five people in Harford County have tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to state health data released Friday morning. It was an increase of two since Thursday.

The most cases of the new coronavirus in Maryland are in Montgomery County, which has 51 of the state's 149 confirmed cases. Next is Prince George's County with 31 cases, Howard County, which has 18 and Baltimore County, where there are 13.

Three people are under 18 who have tested positive, according to state officials; 111 people with the new coronavirus are 18 to 64 years old; and 35 people who have tested positive are over age 65.

Here are the counts from this week for Harford County:

The first case of new coronavirus in Harford County was reported March 8. One week after returning from overseas, officials said an 86-year-old woman who had traveled through Turkey was hospitalized after she became ill.

One of her family members, who is 69 years old, also tested positive, officials reported March 14, stating that person was isolated at home with no symptoms.

The third case was reported March 18. That day, County Executive Barry Glassman placed Harford County under a state of emergency due to COVID-19, which he said "poses an immediate and serious threat to public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Harford County."

Glassman disputed that there were five cases Friday, saying there were only four.

"The Maryland Department of Health has reported a total of five cases of the coronavirus for Harford County, only four of which were county residents," Glassman said in a statement. "While the vast majority of cases fully recover and 80 percent have only mild or moderate symptoms, please keep these fellow citizens in your prayers."

Here is more information about the cases, according to Glassman:

• Woman in her 80s who contracted the virus while traveling overseas and is hospitalized.
• A 69-year-old family member of the first case, who is isolated at home.
• A 47-year-old man who lives in Harford but is working in Boston; he was tested and is self-isolated there.
• A 44-year-old woman who is stable and isolated at home.
• A 55-year-old man reported by the state this morning, but officials now believe this was an address error by a private lab.

The first three Marylanders to test positive have fully recovered from coronavirus, according to the health officer for Montgomery County, where they live. They tested positive March 5.

Related: Second Case Of New Coronavirus In Harford County Confirmed

Here are the totals for Friday, March 20, according to the Maryland Department of Health:

• 51 — Montgomery County
• 31 — Prince George's County
• 18 — Howard County
• 13 — Baltimore County
• 11 — Baltimore City
• 9 — Anne Arundel County
• 5 — Harford County
• 4 — Carroll County
• 2 — Charles County
• 1 —Calvert, Frederick, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that can lead to fever, cough or shortness of breath. Most people who are infected with coronavirus will experience mild or no symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

More severe complications include pneumonia, organ failure and death, the CDC reports.
Health officials advise doing the following to stop the spread of the virus:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

The CDC has put together a coronavirus disease situation summary for more about the illness.

See Also:

• Harford Woman With New Coronavirus Traveled In Turkey: Gov. Hogan
• Second Case Of New Coronavirus In Harford County Confirmed
• Harford County Declares State Of Emergency Due To Coronavirus