Coronavirus In Montgomery County: 1,388 Cases, 34 Deaths

ROCKVILLE, MD — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Montgomery County has surpassed 1,300, Maryland health officials reported on Friday, while the death toll from the disease has topped 30.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and has since infected more than 1,619,400 people and killed more than 97,000 around the world, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.

Maryland reported its first three coronavirus cases on March 5. As of Friday morning, 1,388 people have been infected by the virus in Montgomery County — an increase of 14 percent from the day before.

Five more people have died from COVID-19 in the county, according to the Maryland Department of Health. The local death toll now stands at 34.

In Maryland, there are 6,969 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus. In total, 171 people have died from the disease.

Montgomery County still has the second highest number of coronavirus cases. The jurisdiction with the most is Prince George's County.

As of Friday morning, Prince George's County has 1,716 positive infections. Forty-two people have died.

In an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19, Hogan issued a stay-at-home order for the state's 6 million residents last month. Under this order, Marylanders are prohibited from leaving home, except for essential work, such as working at a hospital or grocery store, and essential trips, such as buying food and seeking medical care.

Maryland officials ordered schools closed on March 16, non-essential services were ordered closed March 23, and the stay-at-home order was issued March 30. Hogan has not banned travel, although he said anyone who has been outside of the state should self-quarantine for 14 days.

Montgomery County leaders have also made some changes.

Starting Monday, people shopping at county stores must wear a face covering.

County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced the move this week, saying it was necessary to protect as many people as possible.

"We are working on many fronts to slow the spread of COVID-19. Protecting shoppers and store employees is critical," Gayles said.

Gayles' announcement warns masks should not be used for children under two years old, or by anyone who has difficulty breathing normally.