State and county health officials said there's an outbreak of coronavirus at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy, where 66 residents have tested positive, with 11 hospitalized at Carroll Hospital Center and Frederick Memorial Hospital.
One of the residents, a man in his 90s, died Saturday evening. Carroll County Health Officer Ed Singer said the man had underlying health conditions.
Singer said the facility is a comprehensive care facility with 104 beds.
"We're trying to isolate folks who are at the property. There are quite a few people who are sick," Singer said Sunday afternoon.
Singer said there are no patients going in or out of the facility as of Sunday.
County health officials said Pleasant View Mount Airy had previously implemented multiple prevention measures according to state and federal guidance, including restricting visitation and communal dining, suspending group activities, implementing extra cleaning measures and conducting daily checks for both staff and residents for symptoms.
"The facility was doing everything it was supposed to be doing up front," Singer said.
Carroll County Board of Commissioners President Stephen Wantz said officials are doing everything they can to ensure everyone is protected the most way that they can.
"This has been something that's really taxing our resources in Carroll. We never thought we would be in a position like this with an incident of this magnitude," Wantz said.
Hospital officials stress that people should follow social-distancing guidelines and stay home as they provide care.
"We have been providing staff support, supplies, anything necessary to help them provide the care," Carroll Hospital Center President Leslie Simmons said. "Our goal absolutely without a doubt is to stop the spread of the virus."
"You have got to make sure that you are doing your social distancing," Wantz said. "I'm not sure what people are not understanding about this deadly pandemic."
Simmons said people who have underlying health conditions should call their health care provider, but others should stay home.
"If you have no symptoms, you do not need to be tested. If you have mild symptoms, you should stay home and monitor your symptoms. You do not need to be tested," Simmons said.
Mount Airy Mayor Pat Rockinberg said the municipality is following emergency operations plans.
Police said they are ensuring the safety of the facility and ensuring the public is not interfering.
"We will enforce Gov. Hogan's executive order. We're asking everybody to calm down and realize this is a private property and anybody trespassing will be arrested," Maryland State Police Westminster Barrack commander Lt. Rebecca Bosley said.
The Carroll County Health Department is able to answer general questions about coronavirus at 410-876-4848.
Gov. Larry Hogan issued the following update to Marylanders:
"It took nearly three weeks for the national capital region to go from 0 to 1,000 cases of COVID-19. It took three days for the region to go from 1,000 to 2,000 cases in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. This is a rapidly evolving and escalating emergency which is now surrounding the nation's capital.
"The number of deaths in our state as a result of COVID-19 has doubled. We have lost 10 of our fellow Marylanders, and we mourn each and every one of them.
"Tonight, Maryland has experienced a tragic coronavirus outbreak at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mount Airy. Multiple state agencies are on the scene and working closely with the local health department and the facility as they take urgent steps to protect additional residents and staff who may have been exposed.
"I want to thank all of the doctors, nurses, and first responders all across our state who are working around the clock to respond to this pandemic.
"As we have been warning for weeks, older Marylanders and those with underlying health conditions are more vulnerable and at a significantly higher risk of contracting this disease.
"We continue to call for Marylanders to stay at home, except for essential reasons, in order to help stop the spread of this virus.
"We are leveraging the full arsenal of public health and government, but defeating this invisible enemy will require a unity of effort and spirit like nothing we have ever faced."
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1 dead after dozens of nursing home residents test positive for coronavirus
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