Over 2K Dead In Maryland From Coronavirus: Health Department

MARYLAND — A total of 2,004 people have died from the coronavirus in Maryland, officials reported Wednesday. Residents of congregate living facilities account for 56 percent of deaths from the virus in the state, based on newly released data.

Test results are pending for another 119 people believed to have died from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Among the more than 2,000 lives lost is a 15-year-old Baltimore County resident, the youngest person to die from the virus in Maryland.

The teen had symptoms of inflammatory syndrome, a rare illness that has infected children in other states, according to authorities.

As of Wednesday morning, Maryland has reported 173,007 negative coronavirus test results.

Officials say 42,323 people have tested positive for the virus, an addition of 777 in the past day. From Monday to Tuesday, the state reported its largest day-t0-day increase, with 1,784 confirmed cases added.

The jump came as the governor announced plans to expand testing capacity later this week, with multiple sites planning to test those without symptoms who may have been exposed to the coronavirus. Gov. Larry Hogan also signed an executive order Tuesday giving pharmacists the authority to conduct coronavirus testing.

Hogan on Friday lifted the stay-at-home order statewide, authorizing local jurisdictions to modify accordingly, as he enacted what he called a "safer at home public health advisory."

Several jurisdictions — Charles, Montgomery and Prince George's counties, as well as Baltimore City — remain under stay-at-home orders. Baltimore Mayor Jack Young announced Wednesday morning that all events would be canceled through Aug. 31, including Fourth of July fireworks and Artscape, to slow the spread of the virus.

Statewide 1,410 people are hospitalized with the virus as of Wednesday morning, health officials say, down from 1,421 on Tuesday. On the intensive care unit, 539 patients are being treated for the coronavirus Wednesday, compared with 537 people Tuesday.

Since the first cases of the virus were confirmed March 5 in Maryland, officials say 7,393 people have been hospitalized due to the virus and 2,993 Marylanders have been released from isolation. Read more at Patch