Governor Larry Hogan says two more residents tested positive for the disease. The two newest cases are a Harford County woman in her 80s and a Montgomery County man in his 60s who was briefly hospitalized.
Officials say the two contracted the coronavirus from traveling overseas. The Maryland Transit Authority is stepping up its cleaning of all trains and stations to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Our state health department team has been working seamlessly with local health departments, and our emergency management teams are engaged with our local and federal partners to limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Hogan. “We continue to hope for the best, and actively plan for the worst. I encourage all Marylanders to remain calm, but to take this seriously and continue to stay informed. We will provide additional updates tomorrow as more information becomes available.”
The governor also provided additional details regarding the three positive COVID-19 cases in Montgomery County. The three individuals—a married couple in their 70s, and a woman in her 50s—all contracted the virus while on an Egyptian cruise of the Nile River. One of the individuals who tested positive attended a recent gathering at The Village at Rockville.
“I want to continue to assure Marylanders that our state is taking every precaution when it comes to the coronavirus,” said Governor Hogan. “Our highest priority is keeping our residents safe. I would encourage all Marylanders to remain calm, but to take this seriously and to continue to stay informed.”
The governor announced that 44 people in Maryland have met the criteria for COVID-19 testing, including the three confirmed cases. A total of 33 individuals have tested negative, including the three Jewish School students who recently returned from New York after indirect contact with an individual who tested positive for coronavirus. Eight cases are still pending.
Meanwhile, a group called the People's Power Assembly is calling on Baltimore officials to help the city's most vulnerable protect themselves against the coronavirus. The activists have outlined sixteen points it thinks the city needs to address, including full-paid sick and child-care leave for low-wage workers. They've also called for meals to be delivered to students whose schools are closed because of the virus.
One of the attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference has the coronavirus. Governor Larry Hogan's office over the weekend said the New Jersey health department notified health officials in Maryland that one attendee has tested positive for COVID-19. The statement says other attendees and those who worked at the conference at National Harbor from February 27 to March 1 may have been exposed. In a tweet Saturday, CPAC sponsor American Conservative Union says the patient did not attend events in the main hall.