BERLIN, Md.- The Worcester County Health Department says the first positive case of COVID-19 in the county is a man in his 30's and is recovering at home. But, there are plenty of anxious parents with children at a Berlin daycare, who are worried their kids may have been exposed.
The Bundles of Joy University voluntarily closed its doors Thursday afternoon after they claim the patient who tested positive for the coronavirus in Worcester County visited their facility last week.
The owner, Joy Barker, says a parent called her Thursday, letting her know that their family member has tested positive for the virus. Barker says the family member was last in the daycare center on March 11th.
“My frustration is that the family was strong enough and called us to let us know this takes place in their family," Barker says. "They were brave enough to do that. Why wasn’t I informed by the local health department before I’m informed by the parent so I could let my families know?”
Barker says she called the local departments of health and education for guidance on what to do. She then decided to close down her center, following the two-week quarantine that's recommended for people who come in contact with the virus. Barker says there has been a lot of confusion on what to do.
"Hopefully the public knows I did the right thing but then I get this from the health department. It says, or a phone call, that specifically states I sent you information on it. And you can stay open. I can stay open? What do you mean I can stay open? I had an infected family member, we're supposed to be quarantined," Barker says.
Barker says she had organized a director's meeting last week with local groups to talk about and prepare for situations like these. She says the daycare will remain closed and will not reopen until March 30th. There is also a Bundles of Joy facility in Salisbury, which will stay open for now.
Worcester County Health Department officials said Thursday afternoon a case investigation was completed and no daycares appear to have been exposed to the case.
"Is today's confirmed COVID-19 case related to a Bundles of Joy Daycare in Berlin announced in the case? And I can tell you that the case investigation we completed today and based on the person's onset of illness, there was no exposure identified at any daycares in Worcester County," Debra Stevens, director of nurse and community health and emergency preparedness says.
Worcester County officials did confirm that its case was in close contact with the case announced Thursday in Wicomico County.