March 21, 2020 - 4:26 PM
BALTIMORE - The mayor of Maryland's most popular beach destination wants vacationers to postpone their trips as the state attempts to combat the spread of the new coronavirus.
“We're not encouraging people to come,” Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan told WBAL-TV on Saturday. “We don't want them to be here and contract anything while they were down here in Ocean City, even if that's possible.”
Gov. Larry Hogan has reduced the permissible number of people statewide at gatherings from 50 to 10. He said this week that some people were still holding parties and cookouts and large gatherings, in violation of state law.
Meehan said Ocean City will be enforcing all of Hogan's initiatives: “We're hoping people will wait for those good times to come back before they travel to the beach."
Maryland health officials reported 190 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Saturday, about 40 more than was reported on Friday. More than half of the statewide total are in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Two people have died. Children account for three of the positive cases.
For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
Maryland National Guard members are now in Baltimore providing assistance to the city during the outbreak.
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News from © The Associated Press, 2020