MD Coronavirus Patients Were At 2 Public Events, Hogan Concerned

SILVER SPRING, MD — Two of the three Montgomery County residents who tested positive for the novel coronavirus later attended public gatherings in Philadelphia and Rockville, possibly exposing school-aged children and the elderly to the disease, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Friday.

The trio — only identified as a woman in her 50s and a married couple in their 70s — contracted the disease, dubbed "COVID-19," while on an Egyptian cruise on the Nile River, Hogan said.

The Marylanders returned to the United States on Feb. 20 and were tested for the new coronavirus this week after authorities were notified someone from their trip had COVID-19. Since their positive test results for the new coronavirus were confirmed Thursday, the Maryland Department of Health said it has been retracing the trio's steps.

"During the course of our investigation of the three individuals who tested positive, we have been able to determine at least two instances of public interactions which are concerning and that we believe necessitate public notification," Hogan said.

"First, after returning from this cruise Feb. 20, one of the individuals attended an event in the Philadelphia area where they were in contact with a group of children and staff from a local school district," Hogan said.

Immediately after learning this, Hogan said, Maryland officials contacted Pennsylvania officials, who shut down five Central Bucks School District schools out of abundance of caution.

"Second, it was also determined during the health department's investigation that one of the other Maryland patients who tested positive for coronavirus attended a public event on Feb. 29 at the Village at Rockville," Hogan said.

At the Village at Rockville, a faith-based senior center located at 9701 Veirs Drive, the patient came in contact with about 70 to 100 individuals including visitors, residents, and staff, Hogan added.

Due to the scale of the gathering, Hogan urged people who attended the event between noon and 6 p.m. to immediately contact their health care provider or the Maryland Emergency Management Agency's call center at 410-517-3720.

"We are providing these updates not to unnecessarily raise alarm but in the interest of full transparency and out of an abundance of caution," Hogan said. "We are doing everything in our power to contain this virus and limit its spread in our state."

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