Three Maryland Residents Are Now Being Tested for Coronavirus

Three people are now being tested for the coronavirus in Maryland. 

Charlie Gischlar, a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Health, said the third possible case was announced this morning by state Deputy Secretary of Public Health Services Fran Phillips. 

The first two patients were announced by Gov. Hogan at a press conference yesterday. Hogan said the patients met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) criteria for the coronavirus, and recently traveled to China. Gischlar said the health department is not sure of the latest patient’s travel history. 

As of now, there are no confirmed cases. Testing for the virus takes two to three days, and Gischlar said the health department will update the public with the results when they come in. 

Phillips said the testing samples are flown to a CDC lab in Atlanta, Georgia. She said there’s a public health lab in Baltimore that plans to do coronavirus testing of its own once it gets clearance and materials from the CDC. She hopes that will happen next week.

Hogan said his administration is taking coronavirus concerns very seriously. He said state health officials are collaborating with the CDC, National Institutes of Health (NIH), local health departments and hospitals, and other agencies to work on a response in case the virus spreads to Maryland. Local hospitals have developed surge plans in the event they have to house a larger volume of patients. The state is checking in with every hospital in Maryland to make sure they have enough supplies for staff and patients, and top health officials have daily briefings with the CDC.

The governor said state preparedness builds on decades of dealing with previous public health crises. 

“While we are hoping for the best, we are also actively planning for the worst,” he said.

Hogan said his administration will submit a $10 million supplemental budget for emergency coronavirus expenses.

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Maryam Shahzad

About Maryam Shahzad

Maryam is a reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She graduated from the University of Maryland in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism. Previously, she was an intern with MCM. She can be reached at mshahzad@mymcmedia.org or on Twitter @maryam_mcm.

Comments

2 Responses to “Three Maryland Residents Are Now Being Tested for Coronavirus”

  1. On February 28, 2020 at 10:02 pm responded with... #

    Who pays for the individual COVID-19 testIng?

  2. On March 2, 2020 at 9:24 am responded with... #

    Thank goodness President Trump put a travel ban on China weeks ago. Excellent and prudent leadership in time of uncertainty with the coronavirus. Get your flu shot folks as over 16K dead in the US this year from flu!

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