Photo via Gov. Hogan’s YouTube channel.
Six additional Marylanders were on the same cruise ship as the first three confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, but on different dates, said Gov. Hogan in a press conference today.
Hogan announced on Thursday that the first three cases of COVID-19 in the state are in Montgomery County. They were all aboard the M.S. Asara cruise ship in Egypt, and returned to the U.S. on Feb. 20. Today, Hogan revealed that six other Marylanders were on the same ship, but from Feb. 19 to March 4.
He said two out of the six are experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus, and all six are quarantined and will be tested.
12 Marylanders are also on the Grand Princess cruise ship, which is docked off the coast of California and has 21 confirmed coronavirus cases onboard. They are being transported to military bases in Texas and Georgia for examination and quarantine. They currently do not have any symptoms of the coronavirus.
On Sunday, state health officials identified two more cases in the state, totaling five. One is a Montgomery County man in his 60s who contracted the illness traveling to Thailand and Egypt. He was briefly hospitalized and is now quarantined.
The other patient is a Harford County woman in her 80s who contracted the virus traveling to Turkey. Hogan said this is the first case of COVID-19 in the world that was contracted while traveling to Turkey.
The two cases announced Sunday have no connection to the first three, Hogan said.
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) said there are no major concerns with risk to the community with the two latest confirmed cases. Hogan said they did not go to any gatherings or events after returning home.
All coronavirus cases in Maryland are related to travel, there is no evidence of community transmission. Hogan announced that all out-of-state travel is canceled for all state employees, and advised all agencies to prepare for a period of mandatory telework.
He advised residents over the age of 60 to stay home as much as possible and avoid large crowds. He encouraged nursing and retirement communities to monitor residents for symptoms. The average age of a coronavirus patient is 60, and the average age a patient who dies from coronavirus is 80, Hogan said.
Before the presser, Hogan, House Speaker Adrienne Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson signed emergency legislation to allow the transfer of up to $50 million from the state’s rainy day fund for Maryland’s emergency response to the coronavirus.
The governor announced he created a coronavirus response team with public health and emergency management experts. He will hold an emergency meeting with the response team tomorrow. Hogan will also hold an emergency meeting with his cabinet for a briefing with state health officials about response efforts to the virus.
Also tomorrow, Hogan will meet with representatives of the state’s long-term care community to make sure Maryland is taking every step to protect seniors and retirees.
