Howard County Coronavirus Deaths Are Reminder: Health Officer

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Two men in Howard County have died from the new coronavirus, according to the Howard County Health Department. The deaths, which were reported Sunday, were the first fatalities attributed to the virus in Howard County.

Officials said the Howard County residents who lost their lives to the illness were a 75-year-old man and a 90-year-old man, both of whom had underlying health conditions.

"With the passing of these residents, the impact of coronavirus on our community has become deadly," County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement Sunday afternoon. "We must refocus and reinforce our efforts to stop the spread by staying at home, social distancing and limiting interactions with others."

In Howard County, 81 people have tested positive for the virus as of Sunday morning, according to the Maryland Department of Health, which reports 1,239 in Maryland overall have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Howard County government, our partners at the state and federal levels, as well as our community stakeholders are united to fight this virus and provide support and resources to all our residents during this difficult time," Ball said. "We will get through this with collective action, compassion, and kindness."

In Maryland, at least 13 people have died now related to COVID-19. State health officials release data daily at 10 a.m., at which time 10 people had reportedly died in the state due to the illness. Afterward, Carroll County officials announced a man had died from the illness after a nursing home outbreak.

"We are reminded of how serious this disease is and how important it is to protect those most vulnerable," Howard County Health Officer Maura Rossman, M.D., said in a statement. "We share the sadness of the families whose lives are forever changed by this virus."

For more information and resources regarding COVID-19 in Howard County, see the Howard County government's coronavirus page.