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| Amid coronavirus pandemic, fewer Maryland, Virginia residents seek ER treatment | Amid coronavirus pandemic, fewer Maryland, Virginia residents seek ER treatment |
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| The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free. For more free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, sign up for our daily Coronavirus Updates newsletter where all stories are free to read. | The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free. For more free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, sign up for our daily Coronavirus Updates newsletter where all stories are free to read. |
| Maryland and Virginia residents with heart ailments and other life-threatening conditions increasingly appear to be avoiding hospital emergency rooms, an extra layer of concern during the coronavirus crisis that is also happening elsewhere in the country. | Maryland and Virginia residents with heart ailments and other life-threatening conditions increasingly appear to be avoiding hospital emergency rooms, an extra layer of concern during the coronavirus crisis that is also happening elsewhere in the country. |
| With ER visits in Maryland down by half in recent weeks, hospital officials in the state are worried that patients in need of urgent care are choosing to suffer longer out of fear that a trip to the hospital will put them at greater risk of being infected by the novel coronavirus. | With ER visits in Maryland down by half in recent weeks, hospital officials in the state are worried that patients in need of urgent care are choosing to suffer longer out of fear that a trip to the hospital will put them at greater risk of being infected by the novel coronavirus. |
| State hospital officials say visits for cancer-related ailments, heart and vascular disease, gastric disease and obstetrics have all declined since the virus began sweeping through the region. | State hospital officials say visits for cancer-related ailments, heart and vascular disease, gastric disease and obstetrics have all declined since the virus began sweeping through the region. |
| In Virginia, Reston Hospital Center and the Sentara Healthcare hospital network said their emergency rooms have also seen sharp drops in patients. | In Virginia, Reston Hospital Center and the Sentara Healthcare hospital network said their emergency rooms have also seen sharp drops in patients. |
| Reston Hospital Center saw a 42 percent decline in patient volume this April compared to last April, chief medical officer Tom Taghon said. | Reston Hospital Center saw a 42 percent decline in patient volume this April compared to last April, chief medical officer Tom Taghon said. |
| “The risk of trying to wait out something that might be serious is greater than the risk of contracting covid,” he said, referencing covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. | |
| Sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked in the newsletter are free to access. | Sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter to track the outbreak. All stories linked in the newsletter are free to access. |
| Between March 15 and April 15, there was a 39 percent decrease in total ER volume across Sentara’s system, which serves patients across the state. | Between March 15 and April 15, there was a 39 percent decrease in total ER volume across Sentara’s system, which serves patients across the state. |
| Emergency room data in the District wasn’t immediately available. | Emergency room data in the District wasn’t immediately available. |
| As of Thursday, there were, 56,598 known cases of coronavirus infection and 2,557 covid-19 deaths in Maryland, the District and Virginia. | As of Thursday, there were, 56,598 known cases of coronavirus infection and 2,557 covid-19 deaths in Maryland, the District and Virginia. |
| In Maryland, the declines in ER visits “cut across all the hospitals in the state, which is an indication that fear is keeping a lot of people away,” said Bob Atlas, president and chief executive of the Maryland Hospital Association. He said part of the reduction may also be related to fewer car crashes from less traffic on local roads. | |
| Atlas said he wants Marylanders to know that the state’s hospitals have not been overwhelmed and that they will be safe going to the emergency room. Every hospital has established screening and triage programs to separate patients who have covid-19 or are suspected to have it, he said. | Atlas said he wants Marylanders to know that the state’s hospitals have not been overwhelmed and that they will be safe going to the emergency room. Every hospital has established screening and triage programs to separate patients who have covid-19 or are suspected to have it, he said. |
| As the pandemic starts to show signs of reaching a plateau in some parts of the region, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan have taken preliminary steps toward lifting the shutdown restrictions that have nearly frozen the local economy. More than 781,000 people have lost their jobs during the past seven weeks, according to federal data released Thursday. | As the pandemic starts to show signs of reaching a plateau in some parts of the region, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan have taken preliminary steps toward lifting the shutdown restrictions that have nearly frozen the local economy. More than 781,000 people have lost their jobs during the past seven weeks, according to federal data released Thursday. |
| Both Northam (D) and Hogan (R) have allowed medical facilities to resume performing elective surgeries. On Thursday, state parks and beaches in Maryland reopened for boating, camping, fishing and tennis. | Both Northam (D) and Hogan (R) have allowed medical facilities to resume performing elective surgeries. On Thursday, state parks and beaches in Maryland reopened for boating, camping, fishing and tennis. |
| Northam announced this week that he plans to lift some restrictions on nonessential businesses May 15, allowing residents to go to dine-in restaurants, get haircuts and shop at retail stores if those establishments follow social distancing guidelines. | |
| Known coronavirus cases and deaths in D.C., Maryland and Virginia | Known coronavirus cases and deaths in D.C., Maryland and Virginia |
| In the District, where the rate of infections and deaths is much higher, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has not followed suit. On Thursday she warned that a premature reopening could further damage the local economy. | In the District, where the rate of infections and deaths is much higher, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has not followed suit. On Thursday she warned that a premature reopening could further damage the local economy. |
| “There’s no vaccine right now, and as governments and communities open up, more people will get infected,” Bowser told Fox 5 D.C. “A measured and safe approach is what’s best for the District in terms of our health but also for our economy. We don’t want to be back to square one in the fall.” | |
| The tally of known infections in the District, Maryland and Virginia climbed by 1,989 on Thursday, with the three jurisdictions reporting another 106 covid-19 deaths. | The tally of known infections in the District, Maryland and Virginia climbed by 1,989 on Thursday, with the three jurisdictions reporting another 106 covid-19 deaths. |
| Eight were in the District, bringing the city’s fatality total to 285. Elderly residents again made up the majority of the new fatalities in the city, where the poorest, predominantly African American wards have been the hardest hit. | Eight were in the District, bringing the city’s fatality total to 285. Elderly residents again made up the majority of the new fatalities in the city, where the poorest, predominantly African American wards have been the hardest hit. |
| Maryland reported 66 additional deaths, bringing its count to 1,503. Among them: an inmate in his 60s from the Roxbury Correctional Institution medium security prison in Hagerstown who marked the third covid-19 fatality in the state prison system. A total of 61 inmates and 171 correctional officers in the system have been infected. | Maryland reported 66 additional deaths, bringing its count to 1,503. Among them: an inmate in his 60s from the Roxbury Correctional Institution medium security prison in Hagerstown who marked the third covid-19 fatality in the state prison system. A total of 61 inmates and 171 correctional officers in the system have been infected. |
| Virginia reported 32 new covid-19 deaths Thursday — and reported 24 for Wednesday, after technical glitches delayed the release of that data by 24 hours. | Virginia reported 32 new covid-19 deaths Thursday — and reported 24 for Wednesday, after technical glitches delayed the release of that data by 24 hours. |
| Too few masks, tests and workers: How covid-19 spread through Md. nursing homes | Too few masks, tests and workers: How covid-19 spread through Md. nursing homes |
| The continuing economic pain in the region showed in federal jobless data released Thursday. Another 134,533 area residents filed unemployment claims last week, about 15,860 more than the previous week. | The continuing economic pain in the region showed in federal jobless data released Thursday. Another 134,533 area residents filed unemployment claims last week, about 15,860 more than the previous week. |
| Maryland’s weekly total nearly doubled, with 65,262 residents filing for unemployment. The jump might be due partly to the fact that “gig economy” freelance workers and self-employed residents were allowed to file jobless claims online for the first time last week. There was also a backlog of applicants, after the state’s new unemployment site crashed the same day it was launched. | Maryland’s weekly total nearly doubled, with 65,262 residents filing for unemployment. The jump might be due partly to the fact that “gig economy” freelance workers and self-employed residents were allowed to file jobless claims online for the first time last week. There was also a backlog of applicants, after the state’s new unemployment site crashed the same day it was launched. |
| As of Wednesday, Maryland was paying $170 million per week in unemployment benefits, up from the typical $7 million per week spent before the pandemic. Since the pandemic began, 516,145 people have filed for unemployment benefits in the state. | |
| Some who applied for benefits as far back as March still have not been paid, state officials acknowledged this week. | Some who applied for benefits as far back as March still have not been paid, state officials acknowledged this week. |
| Hogan said Wednesday that he believed the website’s problems have been largely resolved, but state lawmakers reported earlier in the day that constituents were still flooding their offices seeking help. | |
| Labor Secretary Tiffany Robinson acknowledged the backlog and told lawmakers that the state was testing a mobile site to make it easier for people to apply. She said the site wasn’t going to be released until there was minimal chance it could crash. | |
| Marylanders have spent hours — and days — trying to access unemployment portal | Marylanders have spent hours — and days — trying to access unemployment portal |
| In the District, 8,133 people filed claims, a drop from the previous week’s total of 8,708. In Virginia, 61,138 people applied for help, down from 72,488 the week before. | In the District, 8,133 people filed claims, a drop from the previous week’s total of 8,708. In Virginia, 61,138 people applied for help, down from 72,488 the week before. |
| Meanwhile, local officials worked to make coronavirus testing more widely available. | Meanwhile, local officials worked to make coronavirus testing more widely available. |
| Montgomery County announced plans to deploy a mobile testing unit next week and activate a hotline dedicated to helping people who suspect they have the coronavirus get tested faster. In a briefing to county lawmakers, health officer Travis Gayles said his department wants to provide a “buffet” of testing options to the county’s 1 million residents. | |
| The mobile testing will target transit-dependent communities that do not have easy access to the county’s drive-through sites or to hospitals that offer testing, Gayles said. | The mobile testing will target transit-dependent communities that do not have easy access to the county’s drive-through sites or to hospitals that offer testing, Gayles said. |
| The hotline will be aimed at low-income or undocumented residents who may not have a primary care provider. | The hotline will be aimed at low-income or undocumented residents who may not have a primary care provider. |
| The county is also considering beefing up its oversight of nursing homes, where more than half of its covid-19 deaths have occurred. In some cases, those facilities have been short-staffed, while some nurses were asked not to wear marks early in the pandemic, The Washington Post reported. | |
| “None of us are happy with this,” Gayle told the county council. “It’s a source of heartache.” | “None of us are happy with this,” Gayle told the county council. “It’s a source of heartache.” |
| As of Thursday morning, state inspectors had visited 12 of the county’s nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, which some county lawmakers said was insufficient. | |
| “We cannot sit here right now and reasonably articulate that we have all of the information necessary for somebody to . . . decide whether or not to keep their family within these facilities,” said council member Gabe Albornoz (D-At Large), who chairs the health and human services committee. | |
| Council member Will Jawando (D-At Large) said his uncle recently died of covid-19 while living at a long-term facility in Arlington County. His aunt, he said, lives at a senior facility in Montgomery County. | |
| “I’m distraught with our ability to respond,” Jawando said, in tears. “We’ve got to do more.” | “I’m distraught with our ability to respond,” Jawando said, in tears. “We’ve got to do more.” |
| Erin Cox, Dana Hedgpeth, Dan Morse and Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report. | Erin Cox, Dana Hedgpeth, Dan Morse and Fenit Nirappil contributed to this report. |
| Too few staff and masks: How coronavirus spread through Maryland nursing homes | Too few staff and masks: How coronavirus spread through Maryland nursing homes |
| Aging in place: Many of us feel way older than we did just weeks ago | Aging in place: Many of us feel way older than we did just weeks ago |
| A Cincinnati neighborhood beset by economic collapse and lifted by generosity | |
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