ReOpen Maryland Co-Founder Tests Positive For Coronavirus

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — A co-founder of the ReOpen Maryland movement has tested positive for the coronavirus and refuses to divulge information for contact tracing. Tim Walters shared a series of videos on Facebook about testing positive.

“I was diagnosed yesterday at the ER with COVID-19, and here I am months after not wearing a mask at rallies, churches and so on, and so it’s funny how capricious this thing is," he said.

Walters helped organize protests in Annapolis and other locations in spite of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's stay-at-home orders enacted in the hopes of slowing the spread of the coronavirus. The 53-year-old said he has diabetes and has not paid attention to his health since leaving the U.S. Navy.

He shared in one video that his symptoms include a dry cough he's had for two months that has worsened, along with a headache, fever and a loss of focus in one eye.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Walters' wife and other family members have been tested for the virus and he encouraged anyone who has had contact with him in recent weeks to monitor themselves for symptoms. However, he still will not provide information to officials for contact tracing purposes.

“I just want to educate people. Don’t live in fear, chances are that everyone is going to get this," he said.