Garrett County Reports No New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases

No additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed for Garrett County residents according to the Health Department and the Maryland Department of Health. The confirmed case count remains at three.

“The Health Department is coordinating our response efforts and will continue to work to reduce the spread of infection and protect the health of all people in Garrett County,” said Garrett County Health Officer Bob Stephens.

Garrett County has no current proof of community transmission. In other words, all local cases were most likely infected elsewhere. Only one of the cases is hospitalized and is currently at WVU Medicine in Morgantown. All other positive cases have been self-isolating since they were tested.

 

“Contact tracing is standard procedure for many communicable diseases,” said Stephens. “Our staff has been working overtime in order to protect the community.” Contact tracing is the process of identifying anyone who may have come into contact with a positive case.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Maryland Health Connection has announced from now through April 15 Marylanders can enroll in health plans through @MarylandConnect, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Visit MarylandHealthConnection.gov, the “Enroll MHC” mobile app, or call 1-855-642-8572. Coverage selected during this time will have a start date of April 1, 2020.

The Maryland Health Connection offices at the Garrett County Health Department will be staffed week days from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in both Oakland and Grantsville to assist clients over the phones with insurance needs. Please call 301-334-7720 for Oakland or 301-895-5699 for Grantsville; no walk ins will be accepted at this time.

“If your income has been reduced or you have lost your job, you may be eligible for financial help with your private health plan or you may qualify for Medicaid,” according to the Maryland Health Connection announcement. “If you’ve lost your job, you have 60 days to enroll.”

Garrett County remains under a Declaration of Emergency issued by the Board of Garrett County Commissioners on Sunday, March 22, 2020. This local declaration provides additional powers and resources to our County Departments to deal with the COVID-19 situation. The Garrett County Health Department is the lead agency in this emergency and is supported by all county departments under the coordination of the Department of Emergency Services.

Health leaders are asking people to take the illness seriously and to limit unnecessary social exposure by staying home, washing your hands, remaining home if you are mildly sick, and following the CDC’s guidance.

Patients with COVID-19 have experienced mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath.  Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.  Call your provider if you develop symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently been in high exposure areas.

Information and updates about COVID-19 in Garrett County and around the world are available at garretthealth.org. Residents can also call the Health Department COVID-19 Hotline at 301-334-7698.

Please call 911 only for medical emergencies, not for coronavirus information or questions.