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Health Department clarifies reported COVID-19 death in Allegany County

April 15th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Health Department reports that two additional Allegany County residents have tested positive for COVID-19.  One is a male in his 40s, and the other is a male in his 50s.  Neither of them have required hospitalization. 

A total of 555 Allegany County residents have been tested for COVID-19.  Of those, 514 were negative, 22 have tested positive, and 19 tests are still pending.   

None of Allegany’s 22 confirmed COVID-19 cases have resulted in death.  However, the Maryland Department of Health’s online state case map is assigning the death of a Carroll County nursing home patient as an Allegany County fatality based on the decedent’s address of permanent record.  The COVID-19 case itself was attributed to and counted in Carroll County where the nursing home is located.

“As of April 15, 2020 the state of Maryland is assigning deaths from COVID-19 to the address of permanent record, which may not be the same as an individual’s current residence.  In this case, even though the individual lived in another county in a nursing facility, the permanent residence was listed as Allegany County,” explained Dr. Jennifer Corder, Medical Deputy Health Officer for Allegany and Garrett Counties.  “This individual did not die in Allegany County or receive care here, and was living in another county when diagnosed with COVID-19.  So, while the state lists this as an Allegany County death, this person is not among the 22 confirmed cases reported in Allegany County.”

According to state health officials, while attribution data on COVID-19 cases and deaths are considered preliminary and are subject to change, each confirmed case and each confirmed death within the State of Maryland will only be counted once.

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