WuFlu Reaches Maryland

WaPoo, Coronavirus in Maryland: Three Montgomery County residents contracted the virus

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday that three people from Montgomery County have been diagnosed with the coronavirus: a husband and wife in their 70s and a woman in her 50s.

Hogan (R) declared a state of emergency to speed the delivery of funding and other resources to address the virus. So far, no cases of the coronavirus have been diagnosed in Virginia or the District.

The three patients contracted the virus while traveling overseas and are “in good condition,” Hogan said. They are quarantined in their homes in the county, a large and affluent suburb of about 1 million people just outside Washington. The woman is not related to the couple.

“We have been actively preparing for this situation over the last several weeks across all levels of government,” Hogan said. “I encourage all Marylanders . . . to take this seriously and to stay informed as we continue to provide updates.”
. . .
Fran Phillips, Maryland’s deputy secretary for public health, said the three people returned to Maryland from the same overseas trip on Feb. 20. Officials declined to specify where they had traveled. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said he was told by an aide to Hogan that the individuals were on a cruise.

Travis Gayles, the county’s health officer, said the individuals sought medical attention “fairly immediately” after returning home. But their travel had not involved China, the only country at that time that had been flagged as a place that should trigger testing for the virus.

Hmmm.