First MD Coronavirus Death Is Prince George's County Resident

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Maryland's first confirmed death from the coronavirus is a Prince George's County resident, Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday night. The victim is a man in his 60s who suffered from an underlying medical condition.

“It is with profound sadness that I announce the first death in Maryland as a result of the coronavirus pandemic," Hogan said in a statement. "I ask all Marylanders to join me in praying for his family and loved ones during this difficult time. As we pray for his loved ones, I ask that we continue to pray for each other, for our state, and for our nation as we face this crisis together. We must use every possible resource at every level of government to save lives and keep people safe.”

Hogan will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday in Annapolis to share updates and announce additional actions in the fight against the virus.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks tweeted Wednesday night that the coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented crisis for Prince George’s County.

"We are heartbroken that one of our own Prince Georgians lost his life this evening to the coronavirus, COVID-19," Alsobrooks wrote on Twitter. "I ask that you please join me in keeping his loved ones in our constant prayers. Your county is confronting this head on and working around the clock to protect the well-being of our residents. Prince Georgians are resilient, we support one another and we will hold each other up as we do everything we can to contain the spread of this virus and work to prevent further loss of life."

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State health officials say 85 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maryland as of Wednesday, an increase from Tuesday's total, which was 57.

All 28 people who tested positive for the virus between Tuesday and Wednesday were under age 65, according to state health data.

Maryland has been under a state of emergency since March 5.

Hogan ordered several groups of people to stay home, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control over the next 15 days:

• People who feel sick should stay home and contact their medical provider.
• The entire household needs to remain home if someone has tested positive for the new coronavirus, Hogan said.
• Those with underlying health conditions should remain at home.
• Older people should remain at home and away from people as much as possible.

The governor encouraged people to use common sense and not to hoard products for cleaning and hygiene.

"All the stores are going to remain open. They're all restocking the shelves. We're not going to run out of those basic necessities," Hogan said. "Panic buying just increases person-to-person exposure."

In an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and stop large groups from gathering, the governor ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, movie theaters and gyms across the state, effective March 16 until further notice during the state of emergency. Drive-thru, carryout and food delivery service can continue at restaurants. On Sunday he ordered Maryland's five casinos and the state's racetracks to close at midnight to stem the coronavirus spread. The casinos and racetracks will remain closed until further notice.

Maryland is continuing to operate under a state of emergency. See the governor's coronavirus page for a list of ongoing state actions.

Visit the Maryland Department of Health's coronavirus page for more state health information.

See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's coronavirus disease situation summary for additional information about the illness.

Health officials advise doing the following to stop the spread of the virus:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• 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.

See Also:

• Baltimore Coronavirus Case Was Community Transmission: Officials
• 3 Have New Coronavirus; MD Governor Declares State Of Emergency