As Restrictions Ease, Over 30K Positive For Virus: MD Officials

MARYLAND — With the addition of 1,111 new confirmed cases in the past day, the Maryland Department of Health reported Friday morning that 30,485 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Hospitalizations and the number of patients on the intensive care unit (ICU) are level or declining for the second day in a row. These are two indicators that Gov. Larry Hogan has said he is watching as he considers reopening the state.

Statewide, 1,674 people were hospitalized with the virus as of Friday morning, 571 of them in the ICU, health officials reported. Hospitalizations are down 33 in the past two days, and the number of ICU patients decreased by 13 from Thursday to Friday, according to authorities.

At a news conference Wednesday, Hogan said hospitalizations were trending downward and "even more encouraging is that our ICU numbers have been basically flat."

"If these trends continue into next week," Hogan said, "we will be ready to lift the stay-at-home order and to begin stage one of our recovery plan."

The first phase of the plan allows for "certain types of businesses and lower-risk community, religious and quality-of-life activities" to resume, he said.

Effective Thursday, Hogan lifted restrictions on some services such as elective medical procedures, and he opened amenities such as beaches and playgrounds at state parks. Golf courses were able to reopen, and activities such as boating and fishing were again permitted.

This weekend, Ocean City will open its beaches; its mayor reminds people that the governor's stay-at-home order is in effect, and only essential travel is permitted.

For the latest developments on the coronavirus in Maryland, get Patch news alerts.

Since the first confirmed cases of the virus in Maryland on March 5, authorities report more than 5,800 people have been hospitalized due to COVID-19. After having the virus, officials say, 2,041 people in Maryland have been released from isolation.

A total of 1,453 Marylanders have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, officials reported Friday morning. An additional 107 have COVID-19 listed as a cause of death on their death certificates, authorities say, but test results were pending.

So far, the state has reported 121,702 negative test results, an increase of 2,476 since the previous day.

Coronavirus in Maryland: A Snapshot

Here is a look at Maryland's coronavirus numbers as of Friday:

Case Count By ZIP Code

These are the ZIP codes with the highest coronavirus case counts in Maryland Friday:

• 1,057 cases — ZIP code 20783 (Prince George's County)
• 654 cases — ZIP code 20906 (Montgomery County)
• 581 cases — ZIP code 20706 (Prince George's County)
• 545 cases — ZIP code 20902 (Montgomery County)
• 520 cases — ZIP code 20904 (Montgomery County)
• 509 cases — ZIP code 20784 (Prince George's County
• 469 cases — ZIP code 20782 (Prince George's County)
• 444 cases — ZIP code 21215 (Baltimore City/Baltimore County)
• 428 cases — ZIP code 21224 (Baltimore City/Baltimore County)
• 411 cases — ZIP code 20785 (Prince George's County)

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Jurisdiction

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Age And Gender

Maryland Coronavirus Cases By Race And Ethnicity

Coronavirus At Group Living Facilities

Last week, the state began providing coronavirus case information about those in congregate living facilities, numbers that are updated weekly on Wednesdays.

Maryland has deployed teams to conduct universal testing for nursing home residents and staff and workers at Maryland’s two poultry processing plants. It has prioritized outbreaks and hot spots.

Testing Sites Across The State

The state is expanding testing for health care workers and first responders at local fire and EMS departments, and for health care workers at the Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, Hogan announced Wednesday. See more on testing sites in Maryland.

COVID-19 Symptoms

Symptoms of the new coronavirus can appear two to 14 days after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which lists the following as possible indicators of the illness: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell.

The CDC has an online self-checker tool for those concerned they may have the virus.

Health officials say most people with the virus will experience mild symptoms and can recover at home. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the CDC.

People should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if they have trouble breathing, bluish lips or face, new confusion or inability to arouse and/or persistent pain or pressure in the chest.

See Also:

• MD Governor Eases Restrictions; Reopening From Coronavirus Ahead
• Ocean City Beaches To Reopen This Weekend
• $1.6M Awarded To Maryland Businesses To Make PPE: Coronavirus
• MD Testing Coronavirus Drug In Montgomery County
• Maryland Schools To Close For Rest Of Spring: Coronavirus
• Hogan Administration Sued Over Stay-At-Home Order: MD Coronavirus