Coronavirus Latest: Nearly 7K COVID-19 Cases, 171 Deaths Reported In Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- There are 6,968 cases of coronavirus in Maryland, according to new numbers posted by state officials Friday, and 171 deaths were reported.
The state has added 738 cases since Thursday, but 397 people have recovered in all.
Coronavirus Latest: More Than 7K COVID-19 Cases, 200 Deaths Reported In Maryland
Also, more than 37,000 have tested negative for COVID-19 and just over 1,400 were hospitalized.
"This is going to be one of the most dangerous times this weekend and over the next week or so," Gov. Larry Hogan said at a press briefing Friday afternoon. "We know we're still heading up that curve—going uphill. But we don't know how high the climb is going to be, how long it's going to take to get there, or when it will level off."
Annis Creese was known as 'mom' to many of her students. The longtime high school Spanish teacher in Prince George's County is one of Maryland's victims of COVID-19. The beloved grandmother died suddenly after testing positive.
"She was a true humanitarian, and sometimes I think selfless to a fault," her son Michael Hyland said.
The worst outbreak is at the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy where at least 18 people have died.
On Friday, Maryland leaders announced strike teams have helped nine nursing homes and 15 group homes with medically-fragile children.
"The teams will look at whether the facility has all the gear in place. Does the facility have all the protective equipment?" Deputy Health Secretary Fran Phillips said.
She said the strike teams can provide both testing and care.
The state also announced a new "large-scale" testing partnership with the University of Maryland that could eventually test as many as 20,000 people a day.
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And equipment will be installed at BWI-Marshall airport that can disinfect up to 80,000 N95 masks each day so they can be reused because they are in short supply.
It is a system developed by Ohio-based Battelle.
As Maryland grapples with a health emergency, the state is also dealing with an economic crisis.
The comptroller projects a a $2.8 billion budget shortfall. Gov. Hogan announced a state hiring and spending freeze. The exceptions are for COVID-19-related expenses and meeting current payroll.
"I just put everybody on notice today, that it's very unlikely that anything requiring additional spending will be signed into law," Hogan said.
The General Assembly passed the massive Kirwan-commission education reform bill that awaits the governor's signature.
To handle record unemployment claims, Maryland is doubling the number of people answering phones and beefing up computer servers.
By next week, eligible unemployed Marylanders will be getting their $600-a-week bonus from the federal government.
Governor Hogan also had this Easter message:
"There have been other times in our history that events and conflicts have prevented us from celebrating holidays in the way that we are accustomed to. The way we celebrate this weekend will be very different, but that in no way should diminish the promise of Easter, which celebrates a resurrection after a period of suffering and sacrifice. Easter really is a day of hope, which is something all of us desperately need right now. This weekend, I ask all Marylanders regardless of your faith to reflect on that spirit of hope and to carry it forward in the difficult days and weeks ahead."
Here's a breakdown of cases (and deaths) by county:
Allegany - 10
Anne Arundel - 554 (16)
Baltimore City - 685 (17)
Baltimore County - 1,072 (21)
Calvert - 76 (1)
Caroline - 12
Carroll - 214 (19)
Cecil - 64 (1)
Charles - 220 (4)
Dorchester - 7
Frederick - 289 (9)
Garrett - 4
Harford - 110
Howard - 319 (5)
Kent - 9
Montgomery - 1,388 (34)
Prince George's - 1,716 (42)
Queen Anne's - 17
St. Mary's - 71
Somerset - 4
Talbot - 13 (1)
Washington - 66
Wicomico - 28 (1)
Worcester - 16
Here's a breakdown of cases by age (deaths) across the state:
0-9: 36
10-19: 146
20-29: 772
30-39: 1,205 (5)
40-49: 1,281 (5)
50-59: 1,421 (20)
60-69: 1,051 (32)
70-79: 685 (51)
80+: 371 (58)
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
