MD Coronavirus: 6th Confirmed Case Reported In PG County

ANNAPOLIS, MD — State health officials confirmed the first positive test of the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, involving a Prince George's County resident, according to a release from Gov. Larry Hogan's office. This makes the sixth confirmed positive case in Maryland.

The Maryland Health Department reported Monday that this new case does not appear to be connected to the previously reported positive cases in Maryland, nor does it present an exposure risk to the community. Health workers notified Prince George's County officials about the case.

“With the confirmation of a sixth case of novel coronavirus in our state, I want to again assure Marylanders that all levels of government are working together to respond to the COVID-19 threat in a cooperative and coordinated manner,” said Hogan, in the release. “We remain committed to bringing the full resources of state government to bear in order to protect our citizens and mitigate the spread of this virus.”

In addition to the new case in PG County, five other people tested positive for the new coronavirus and 73 people have tested negative as of Monday, according to state health data.

A Harford County woman who tested positive for the novel coronavirus remains hospitalized Monday, according to officials. State and local officials provided updates on the case of coronavirus linked to the 86-year-old woman, who became ill after a trip to Turkey, according to Hogan.

"This appears to be the first case of COVID-19 anywhere in the world to be associated with travel to Turkey," Hogan said at a news conference Monday afternoon.

The Maryland Department of Health, which had been updating its website with how many people were being tested for the illness, is no longer posting the number of pending results due to the growing number with the addition of commercial laboratories to the testing pool.

Don't miss updates about coronavirus in Bowie and the surrounding areas, as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

While the state is not reporting it on its website, Hogan said Monday that about 18 Marylanders who have been linked to cruise ships are undergoing testing for COVID-19.

"This problem continues to escalate rapidly," Hogan said. "It is going to shift from containment to trying to deal with the situation on the ground," he said, based on information health leaders and other governors shared that "it starts to escalate pretty rapidly."

Earlier in the day, Hogan signed emergency legislation giving him the authority draw from the state's rainy day fund. He also announced the formation of a Coronavirus Response Team to advise his administration as the situation continues to evolve. Hogan's office also suspended all business-related out-of-state travel for state employees.

Also on Monday, Monica Goldson, Prince George's County Public Schools' chief executive officer, issued updated guidance to address concerns COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Hogan will convene a meeting of his full cabinet to discuss the state's governmental response to COVID-19. Visit the Maryland Department of Health's coronavirus page or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's coronavirus disease situation summary for additional information.

Watch Monday's news conference with Hogan.

See Also:

• Passengers On Cruise Ship Hit By Coronavirus Headed To Georgia
• 2 New Coronavirus Cases In Maryland: Governor Hogan
• Coronavirus Exposure Possible At National Harbor Conference
• 3 Have New Coronavirus; MD Governor Declares State Of Emergency
• MD Coronavirus Patients Were At 2 Public Events, Hogan Concerned
• Coronavirus Testing Costs Waived In Maryland
• Coronavirus Guidance Updated For PG County Schools

COVID-19 Fast Facts

• Coronavirus refers to a family of different viruses. For instance, the common cold is a coronavirus. So is SARS. COVID-19, however, is a new strain.
• Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning that they can spread between people and animals.
• Symptoms include a fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
• COVID-19 can spread between people who are about 6 feet apart from each other and through respiratory droplets (produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes), the CDC says.
• An infected person may not experience symptoms for up to 14 days