ANNAPOLIS, Md.- Maryland had 149 confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) as of Friday morning, with one of the new cases involving a 10-month-old baby, according to Gov. Larry Hogan.
Hogan said that Friday's number of cases was up from 17 cases just one week ago. The baby's case marks the first infant to contract the virus in the state. A 5-year-old girl and a teenager are the only other two individuals under the age of 18 with COVID-19 in Maryland. Hogan said none of the cases of children under 18 are currently hospitalized. Two-thirds of our cases are between the ages of 18 and 64, he said.
Maryland has more than 140 cases of the new virus, more than half of them in Montgomery and Prince George's counties outside Washington, D.C. The state's first death linked to the virus was reported Wednesday.
“While we hope Marylanders will take advantage of today’s warm weather, we urge you to avoid crowds at all costs," Hogan said in a statement. "Avoid all playgrounds, pavilions, and anywhere that groups of more than 10 people may congregate. Please do not take this guidance lightly."
Hogan is also asking all returning spring break travelers to self-quarantine for the next 14 days, and to avoid people over the age of 60.
"Even though students are not returning to campus, this should not in any way be treated as an extension of your spring break," Hogan said. "If you ignore this recommendation, you are endangering yourself and the health of others.
The breakdown of cases by county:
Anne Arundel - 10
Baltimore City - 11
Baltimore County - 13
Calvert - 1
Carroll - 3
Charles - 2
Frederick - 1
Harford - 5
Howard - 18
Montgomery - 51
Prince George's - 31
Talbot - 1
Wicomico - 1
Worcester - 1
Cases by age range:
Under 18 : 3
18-64 : 111
65+ : 35
A map tracing cases in the state can be found here.
COVID-19 is thought to be able to spread like the cold or flu through
- Coughing and sneezing, which creates respiratory droplets
- Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
- Touching an object or surface with the virus on it
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Fever
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- In more severe cases, pneumonia (infection in the lungs)
The vast majority of people recover from this infection. Most people will have mild or moderate symptoms. Older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions have a greater risk for more serious illness.
For more information about COVID-19 and a list of local and regional resources about the disease, click here.
