Howard County Woman Shares Her Coronavirus Experience

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Kimberly Moore couldn't wait to see her friends and celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Ocean City. She packed a bag on Friday and trekked more than 100 miles from her home in Howard County to the resort town, feeling great. The 38-year-old spent the weekend splitting her time between her hotel and at least three bars off Coastal Highway before she headed back home Sunday.

On Monday, Moore shared with Delmarva Now that she awoke with a cough and a fever. She laid back down, then woke up a second time a couple of hours later and realized she was incredibly ill and headed to the hospital. On Tuesday, she tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Because symptoms can take two to 14 days after exposure to appear, it's unsure if she contracted the virus before arriving in Ocean City or while she was there. The Worcester County Health Department investigated the incident and confirmed that a visitor had been diagnosed shortly after leaving Ocean City that weekend.

"She became ill after she left, and there were no exposures in Worcester County establishments," said Debra Stevens, the Worcester County Health Department’s director of community health and emergency preparedness, during a news conference.

On March 19, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan and the city council urged citizens to stay home, be responsible and avoid crowds.

“To further protect our residents, visitors and Town employees we request that visitors postpone trips to Ocean City beginning immediately,” Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan said in a statement. “This action is necessary to ensure compliance with social distancing and flatten the curve of this dangerous coronavirus. At this point, the only weapon we have to combat this potentially fatal virus is to take drastic measures. All of us have to work together to outlast and shorten the cycle of this pandemic."

On March 22, Ocean City shut down its beach and boardwalk, effective through April 15. Only residents who reside within the corporate limits of the Town of Ocean City will be allowed to walk their dogs or exercise on the beach or Boardwalk in groups of no more than two adults and children at any time. Social distancing will remain a requirement. In addition, public access to town buildings and several amenities (Eagles Landing and playground structures) are also closed.

“If every single person steps up and does their part by making sacrifices now, it will slow the spread of this virus and help us flatten the curve,” Meehan finished. “We look forward to eventually welcoming families back to Ocean City, but the safest place for everyone right now is in their home.”

Read more about Moore's experience with new coronavirus at Delmarva Now.

Related:

• Confirmed Coronavirus Case Total In Howard County Reaches 62
  
• Meals, Laptops, Schoolwork Given By HCPSS During Extended Closure
  
• HoCo Launches Rapid Response Team For Coronavirus Cases
  
• HoCo Seniors Kept Fed, Engaged During Coronavirus Outbreak
  
• Coronavirus Social Distancing Score: How Howard County Is Doing