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SIGNED HERE ORDERING MULTIPLE STORES AND BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTY TO CLOSE DOWN FOR AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS STARTING AT MIDNIGHT. NOW THAT INCLUDES THE MALL OF COLUMBIA AND OTHER STORES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RESTAURANTS WITH ENTRANCES OUTSIDE OF THE MALL A STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL ALSO BE PENACTED AT MIDNIGHT NOW THIS INCLUDES AND COMES AFTER THE COUNTY IS SEEING ITS FIRST PATIENT CONFIRMED WITH COVET 19. CECIL STATES, HE’S AN 82 YEAR OLD WOMAN WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS. SHE IS IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW. HER CONDITION WAS NOT RELEASED THIS AS SIXTH FIRST RESPONDERS CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT WHILE RESPONDING TO A CALL UNRELATED TO THE VIRUS. WE’RE TOLD ALL SIX OF THEM ARE BEING SELF QUARANTINE. WE NEED TO REMAIN VIGILANT. CALM THAT MEANS TO CONTINUE SOCIAL DISTANCING. IT IS CRITICAL THAT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY INCLUDING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES EVEN IF YOU THINK THAT YOU’RE HEALTHY STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE TAKEN UNPRECEDENTED STEPS TO SLOW THE COMMUNITY SPREAD BY CLOSING SCHOOLS LIBRARIES RECREATION CENTERS AND MORE. BUT THOSE CLOSURES ARE IN VAIN IF OUR COMMUNITY DOESN’T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY? AND OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STILL LOOKING INTO JUST HOW THE PATIENT CONTRACTED THE VIRUS, BUT THEY DO TELL US THAT SHE HAD LIMITED PUBLIC INTERACTIONS FOR NOW. WE’RE LIVE IN ELLICOTT CITY

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Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced Sunday that an elderly woman has tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed case for the county.Ball said the woman is 82-years-old and has underlying medical conditions. She is currently hospitalized. Officials said she had limited contact with others. It is not known how she contracted the disease.The Maryland State Health Department confirmed the woman is a resident at Lorien Elkridge, a nursing home facility in Howard County. Lorien Columbia, Lorien Hall Assisted Living and Lorien Encore at Turf Valley in Howard County have no cases. The resident has been hospitalized and the facility is in the process of notifying all residents, staff and family members. State and local officials will conduct evaluation and testing, as indicated, for residents and staff. MDH has provided infection control guidance and equipment to the facility, and inspectors will be on-site to make sure guidance is being followed. MDH recommends that members of the public who recently visited this facility monitor themselves for symptoms of a respiratory infection including fever, flu-like symptoms, cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.Six members of the fire department responded to the woman, not knowing they were responding to a COVID-19 case. All six members are being self-quarantined, the Howard County fire chief said."Don't be alarmed when we come to you to address an emergency. We may be dressed in protective equipment. That is just to limit exposures," the fire chief said.Ball enacted a local State of Emergency. All businesses in the Mall in Columbia must close for seven days starting at midnight Sunday. However, this does not apply to restaurants that have entrances outside of the mall. Additionally, shops in Savage Mill and movie theaters must also close.Ball asked the entire community, regardless of age or presumed health, to stay home.This brings the count of confirmed cases in the state to 32.​