To prevent spread, Anne Arundel officials coordinating with government, BWI airport, hospitals and employers
Top Anne Arundel County officials say there’s no need to panic about the coronavirus, as they’re monitoring its evolution around the clock in coordination with Maryland and national health officials and working with private partners such as hospitals, the BWI airport and local employers.
“People should be concerned enough to take steps to reduce their risk,” Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman told The Capital Friday morning, outlining a host of simple measures also posted on its website. After the interview, Kalyanaraman and County Executive Steuart
Pittman rushed to dial into a conference call about the virus.
The general public at this point should continue their daily activities, but those who are particularly at risk for the virus, like the elderly — people over 70 — and those with chronic diseases, should be extra careful, Kalyanaraman said. “We recommend that they try to avoid non-essential activities, so large crowds and gatherings, but they should go about their daily routines.”
Their public statements came hours after state officials confirmed the first three cases of the virus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19, in Maryland. All three cases were in Montgomery County and related to an international cruise. The patients are a married couple in their 70s and an unrelated woman in her 50s who had traveled with them. All are in isolation in their homes. At least 44 Marylanders had been tested as of Friday evening and eight are still pending. Kalyanaraman declined to disclose whether anyone from Anne Arundel County has been tested for the disease, citing a Maryland Department of Health policy not to disclose where patients tested are from.
“We only talk publicly about the confirmed cases,” he said.
The respiratory disease has killed more than 3,000 globally and sickened at least 100,000. After confirming the first three cases Thursday, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency, enabling the state to mobilize its emergency operations center and ramp up its coordination with local and federal agencies.
In a rare appearance together in Annapolis Friday morning, U.S. Democratic senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen updated the Anne Arundel County delegation on efforts to combat the coronavirus, including Congress’s plans for additional emergency funding beyond the $8 billion approved Friday and distribution of more than a million testing kits nationwide in the coming weeks.
The most important question among the public is, “Can I get tested if I’m sick?” Cardin said. “And the answer is today? No. But within days, yes. As we speak, private labs that service people in Maryland are getting the kits, and they’ll be nationwide within the next few days.”
Following the meeting, Van Hollen and Cardin joined U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin at the National Institutes of Health to meet with researchers who are working on a vaccine for the virus.
Not everybody should seek treatment for the virus, Kalyanaraman said. But people that have traveled to countries that have experienced outbreaks — China, Japan, South Korea, Italy and Iran — and are having symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, fever or shortness of breath “should talk to your health care provider to see if you should get tested and what additional treatment you need.”
Kalyanaraman said his agency has been in almost “daily” contact withthe three local hospitals that treat most county patients. . County health department employees have reviewed screening patients and managing suspected cases.
“We’re in a very good place in terms of preparation,” Kalyanaraman said.
Dr. Neel Vibhakar, chief medical officer at Baltimore Washington Medical Center, said the hospital is prepared to handle suspected cases and treat confirmed cases.
“If we suspect a case of COVID-19, we mask the patient, obtain travel and exposure history, and contact our Maryland Department of Health partners,” Loren Farquhar, spokeswoman for Anne Arundel Medical Center, said in a statement.
Kalyanaraman said his team and state health officials have been working closely with BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport from the beginning of the year. Airport personnel and health officials have developed protocols for incoming flights from designated countries. If somebody is sick on such a flight, the airport is supposed to contact health officials.
Officials then determine whether to test, recommend self-quarantine or enact some other plan, Kalyanaraman said.
BWI spokesman Jonathan Dean said the airport does not have airline service from countries that have experienced major outbreaks. He added BWI is working with airlines and airport tenants regarding the virus.
Pittman’s office issued a statement Friday morning urging residents to practice healthy hand-washing habits — Kalyanaraman suggests singing “Happy Birthday” — and encourages employees to stay home when they’re sick. Kalyanaraman said they’ve disseminated strategies for employers to reduce risk, like intensified cleaning and sanitation efforts.
But Pittman told The Capital he’s concerned about the people who can’t stay home.
“Sick leave policies are a big issue,” Pittman said. “We know that folks who do things like work at home are only a portion of our workforce, and there are other jobs where people have to be there. Unfortunately, those are lower-paid jobs, so the impact of this could potentially be on lower-paid workers.”
He assured county health and human services agencies are equipped to care for the county’s most vulnerable citizens. He said these agencies are considering how the potential spread of the virus could impact food banks and increase the need for other social services, and that his office is reviewing the budget to see if they’ll need to allocate more funds.
If the virus spreads to a certain point, county officials have to consider the possibility of closing schools and other agencies — though Pittman and Kalyanaraman said that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon — and what to do in that scenario. Both said state guidelines establish thresholds for closures. Anne Arundel County Public Schools spokesman Bob Mosier said the school system operated as usual Friday but will continue to work collaboratively with the county health department as the issue evolves.
Kalyanaraman and Pittman said it’s too early to stockpile supplies. Generally, the health department recommends keeping canned food and dried goods. The officials acknowledged internet shortages of masks and hand sanitizer, the latter of which should only be used when soap and water are not accessible, Kalyanaraman said.
Hygiene recommendations
County Executive Steuart Pittman’s statement included the following hygiene recommendations:
■ Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
■ Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.
■ Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
■ Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
■ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
■ If you are sick, stay home.
■ Avoid close contact with people who are sick.