Four more people have died from COVID-19 in Carroll County, officials announced Tuesday, including the first death of a person outside of the two local elder care facilities most affected by the novel coronavirus so far.
The first death of a person not living in Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy or Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster was a man in his 80s, according to Maggie Kunz, health planner for the Carroll County Health Department. Kunz said no further details were available about that case April 7.
Three additional deaths reported Tuesday on the health department’s COVID-19 webpage were residents at Pleasant View, the site of the first five deaths in Carroll County due to COVID-19. Kunz said there was no specific information yet available on those three additional deaths Tuesday evening, but it bring the total number of people who have died due to COVID-19 at the facility to 17; 81 residents and 31 staff members at the facility have tested positive for the virus.
No new deaths were reported Tuesday at Carroll Lutheran Village, where one person has died of COVID-19 and 12 residents — and two staff members — have tested positive so far.
But while those facilities have been affected most heavily thus far — the coronavirus is particularly threatening to older populations and those with compromised health — , the spread of COVID-19 in the broader community, as reflected by this first death reported Tuesday, will also change the health department’s focus going forward, according to Kunz.
“As cases rise in the community, we are shifting to a broader focus on community data,” she said. “We are also sharing more information on community-wide prevent and preparedness measures.”
Total positive cases in Carroll County now stand at 162, according to the health department data, 54 of which are people in the “community," that is, not residents or staff of Pleasant View or Carroll Lutheran Village. Of those, 35 are women and 19 are men, while 13 are between the ages of 20 and 29; six are between ages 30 and 39; 11 between ages 40 and 49; 16 between ages 50 and 59; six between ages 60 and 69; and one person each between the ages of 70 and 79, and 80 and 89.
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There are no community cases involving anyone age 90 or older, according to the data.
Nationwide, as of 7 p.m. Tuesday, the coronavirus had resulted in more than 12,200 deaths in the United States out of more than 387,000 people who have tested positive for the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University. The World Health Organization deemed the coronavirus a pandemic March 11.
Anyone who thinks they or a family member might be showing coronavirus symptoms can call the Carroll County Health Department’s COVID-19 hotline, which is available 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. seven days a week at 410-876-4848, or contact their doctor. After hours, callers may leave a message or call 211. People with emergencies should continue to call 911.
Updates on the number of Maryland cases and other important information can be found on the health department’s COVID-19 webpage at cchd.maryland.gov/covid-19/.
An earlier version of this story misstated some figures. At Pleasant View Nursing Home, 81 residents and 31 staff members have tested positive for the virus. At Carroll Lutheran Village, two staff members have tested positive.