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| Maryland reports first coronavirus fatality as health facilities ramp up | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Maryland announced its first coronavirus fatality Wednesday night as the number of patients in the greater Washington area passed 200 and medical facilities worked to expand testing capacity and add hospital beds. | |
| The man who died was a Prince George’s County resident in his 60s who had an underlying medical condition. Two Virginia men also have died from the virus in recent days. | |
| “As we pray for his loved ones, I ask that we continue to pray for each other, for our state, and for our nation as we face this crisis together,” Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said in a statement. “We must use every possible resource at every level of government to save lives and keep people safe.”. | |
| George Washington University Hospital opened a tent to treat coronavirus patients at its Foggy Bottom campus, the latest facility to set up triage and treatment or drive-through testing sites separate from non-coronavirus patients. | |
| Maryland officials say they are planning to add thousands of hospital beds and working with supply chain partners to ensure there is enough protective gear, including masks, gowns and gloves. | |
| “Everybody is working 24/7 to get ready for what could be coming,” said Bob Atlas, president of the Maryland Hospital Association. | “Everybody is working 24/7 to get ready for what could be coming,” said Bob Atlas, president of the Maryland Hospital Association. |
| In its first six hours of collecting coronavirus swabs at a temporary drive-through testing site, Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington tested 60 people. | In its first six hours of collecting coronavirus swabs at a temporary drive-through testing site, Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington tested 60 people. |
| But another Virginia provider, Sentara Healthcare system, said it was closing three drive-through sites in Hampton Roads because supplies were running low after it screened 1,760 people and tested 786 in just three days. Officials said they were working with federal and state officials to get more tests. | |
| With schools closed and the region in virtual lockdown for most of this week, the number of cases has climbed to 203. Maryland added 23 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 86. Virginia reported 10 cases, for a total of 77. The District announced eight new patients, bringing its total to 40. Most of the new Maryland and Virginia cases are in the populous Washington suburbs. | |
| Here is a Washington Post analysis of coronavirus patients in the DMV | Here is a Washington Post analysis of coronavirus patients in the DMV |
| Among the patients testing positive are a child from Rocketship Rise Academy Public Charter School and a U.S. marshal who works in D.C. Superior Court. | |
| In an email to parents, the pre-kindergarten-through-4th grade school said that the “child is taking the necessary precautions and following the advice of their medical professional.” The case is the first known to involve a minor in the city. | |
| A spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service said the marshal works in room C-10, where new arrestees — as many as 20 to 100 a day — are brought through for detainment hearings, with dozens of family members and attorneys in the audience. He was tested after having flu-like symptoms last week and has not been in the courtroom since Friday. | |
| Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) said there are three “outbreaks” in his state, meaning clusters of patients where two or more can be traced to common exposure. One of those outbreaks is on the peninsula, in James City County, where there have been 17 confirmed cases. Both fatalities occurred in that general area. | |
| Virginia labs have capacity to process 260 to 360 tests, said Norman Oliver, the state health commissioner. Officials anticipate receiving new reagents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the next day, which would increase capacity. | Virginia labs have capacity to process 260 to 360 tests, said Norman Oliver, the state health commissioner. Officials anticipate receiving new reagents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the next day, which would increase capacity. |
| Northam floated the idea of activating the National Guard, which he said might be able to help deliver food, providing staffing at hospitals or erecting tents at hospitals to increase capacity. | |
| Hogan has already deployed the Maryland National Guard to help enforce shutdowns and provide other assistance, and D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has launched the process for activating the D.C. National Guard if needed. | |
| At GWU, officials said the new tent would limit exposure to the virus by separating coronavirus cases from the larger population. Patients can be triaged and tested there, and those who are well enough to be sent home will be. Bruno Petinaux, the hospital’s chief medical officer, said 80 percent of patients infected with the virus have been able to recuperate at home. Critical cases will be admitted into the hospital. | At GWU, officials said the new tent would limit exposure to the virus by separating coronavirus cases from the larger population. Patients can be triaged and tested there, and those who are well enough to be sent home will be. Bruno Petinaux, the hospital’s chief medical officer, said 80 percent of patients infected with the virus have been able to recuperate at home. Critical cases will be admitted into the hospital. |
| “It’s all about how we use our staff in a smart and effective way,” Petinaux said. | “It’s all about how we use our staff in a smart and effective way,” Petinaux said. |
| Live updates: The latest coronavirus news in the District, Maryland and Virginia | Live updates: The latest coronavirus news in the District, Maryland and Virginia |
| In Arlington, the Virginia Hospital Center set up the drive-through testing site in partnership with several county agencies. The tests, open only to Arlington County residents or employees with pre-submitted doctor’s orders, will take five to seven business days to be processed. Chief nursing officer Melody Dickerson said the hospital has enough test kits for the immediate future. | |
| Throughout Virginia, there are about 18,500 licensed hospital beds, including about 2,000 intensive care unit beds, said Julian Walker, a spokesman with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. | |
| Six regional health-care coalitions in Virginia that help coordinate emergency responses collectively have another 400 ventilators that could be deployed to hospitals if needed. | Six regional health-care coalitions in Virginia that help coordinate emergency responses collectively have another 400 ventilators that could be deployed to hospitals if needed. |
| D.C. officials said there are 3,273 licensed acute-care hospital beds in the city. In a statement, health officials said they are committed to supporting the health-care system throughout the pandemic, “including implementing strategies to manage current and future needs.” | D.C. officials said there are 3,273 licensed acute-care hospital beds in the city. In a statement, health officials said they are committed to supporting the health-care system throughout the pandemic, “including implementing strategies to manage current and future needs.” |
| In Maryland, officials hope to add about 6,000 hospital beds across the state’s four dozen hospitals, said Dennis R. Schrader, chief operating officer and Medicaid director of the Maryland Department of Health. The state has about 7,400 operational beds. | |
| Schrader said officials have determined that 900 beds can be made available immediately. They are hopeful that hospitals can add another 1,000 beds statewide in existing facilities in the next 45 days. He said some existing areas will have to reopen, some minor construction will have to be done and some nontraditional spaces will have to be opened to accommodate the additional 4,100 beds. | |
| “We are planning for the worst and hoping for the best,” Schrader said. | “We are planning for the worst and hoping for the best,” Schrader said. |
| Get behind the paywall with The Washington Post’s coronavirus newsletter | Get behind the paywall with The Washington Post’s coronavirus newsletter |
| About 75 percent of Maryland’s hospital beds are occupied, said Timothy Chizmar, the state EMS medical director at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, which conducts a daily survey. | |
| Major hospital systems in the state, including Johns Hopkins Health and the University of Maryland Medical System, have suspended elective surgeries to increase their capacities to treat coronavirus patients. | Major hospital systems in the state, including Johns Hopkins Health and the University of Maryland Medical System, have suspended elective surgeries to increase their capacities to treat coronavirus patients. |
| “It’s a logistical nightmare for my physicians,” said Gene Ransom, chief executive of the Maryland State Medical Society. “But the key thing is that it frees up space.” | “It’s a logistical nightmare for my physicians,” said Gene Ransom, chief executive of the Maryland State Medical Society. “But the key thing is that it frees up space.” |
| Ransom said hospitals statewide are seeing historic lows in terms of patients, as officials have warned people to stay away. But they are preparing for a dramatic increase in patient volume as the number of cases continues to increase. | Ransom said hospitals statewide are seeing historic lows in terms of patients, as officials have warned people to stay away. But they are preparing for a dramatic increase in patient volume as the number of cases continues to increase. |
| “We just don’t know how big the bump will be,” he said. | “We just don’t know how big the bump will be,” he said. |
| The ripple effect of the coronavirus crisis continued to play out in other areas, as well, including public transportation. | |
| Metro, which is operating on a reduced schedule, asked residents to stay home so the available trains can be used by hospital staff, first responders and others who need to travel during the coronavirus crisis. Ridership on the rail system dropped by 80 percent on Tuesday. | |
| Facing plummeting revenue and higher costs to protect employees, the transit agency said it was facing a budget deficit of more then $50 million and was seeking emergency assistance from Congress. | |
| Officials said the DC Circulator is suspending fares on all routes, so passengers can board at all entrances, at safe distances from one another. | |
| D.C. police announced “operational adjustments” so they could respond to residents while also minimizing officers’ possible exposure to the coronavirus and the general public. | D.C. police announced “operational adjustments” so they could respond to residents while also minimizing officers’ possible exposure to the coronavirus and the general public. |
| The police force urges people calling 911 to tell the operator whether they are experiencing covid-19 symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. That way, dispatchers can advise responding officers to “take appropriate safety precautions.” | The police force urges people calling 911 to tell the operator whether they are experiencing covid-19 symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. That way, dispatchers can advise responding officers to “take appropriate safety precautions.” |
| In addition, officers will ask to speak to people who call “outdoors when possible” and to maintain a distance as they interact. Police also urged residents to file for routine police reports or nonemergencies online. | In addition, officers will ask to speak to people who call “outdoors when possible” and to maintain a distance as they interact. Police also urged residents to file for routine police reports or nonemergencies online. |
| Meetings and other public events with D.C. police are temporarily suspended, but authorities are available by telephone and through email. Regularly scheduled community crime meetings will be held via conference call. | Meetings and other public events with D.C. police are temporarily suspended, but authorities are available by telephone and through email. Regularly scheduled community crime meetings will be held via conference call. |
| Johns Hopkins University said its May graduation ceremonies will be held online. In-person celebrations will happen at a later date. Georgetown University said it was postponing commencement ceremonies. | Johns Hopkins University said its May graduation ceremonies will be held online. In-person celebrations will happen at a later date. Georgetown University said it was postponing commencement ceremonies. |
| With thousands of parents working from home while looking after restless children, borrowing soared at the D.C. Public Library before it closed to visitors Monday. | With thousands of parents working from home while looking after restless children, borrowing soared at the D.C. Public Library before it closed to visitors Monday. |
| Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the library’s executive director, tweeted that more people checked out more books from Friday to Sunday than in all of February. | Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the library’s executive director, tweeted that more people checked out more books from Friday to Sunday than in all of February. |
| “This is the only acceptable form of hoarding,” the tweet said. | “This is the only acceptable form of hoarding,” the tweet said. |
| Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando (D-At Large) tried to offer some relief by hosting a daily virtual story time from his office in Rockville on Wednesday. Seated on his couch, he opened his first book, “Waiting Is Not Easy,” by Mo Willems. | |
| “Now, how many of you know I picked this book because it’s hard right now to stay in the house, not be at school, not see your friends and wait for this to be over?” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.” | “Now, how many of you know I picked this book because it’s hard right now to stay in the house, not be at school, not see your friends and wait for this to be over?” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.” |
| Keith L. Alexander, Perry Stein, Peter Hermann, Fenit Nirappil, Rebecca Tan, Patricia Sullivan, Laura Vozzella, Luz Lazo and Susan Svrluga contributed to this report. | |
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