US: Maryland confirms first 3 coronavirus cases

WASHINGTON

The U.S. state of Maryland confirmed its first three cases of the novel coronavirus Thursday.

"The state’s Public Health Laboratory in Baltimore has confirmed the first three positive cases of novel coronavirus in Maryland," Gov. Larry Hogan said on Twitter.

"The patients, who contracted the virus while traveling overseas, are in good condition."

They include a married couple in their 70s and an individual in their 50s who were overseas on the same trip. They are all Montgomery County residents.

During a press conference, the governor declared a state of emergency in Maryland and encouraged Marylanders not to panic but to take the situation seriously and to stay informed.

All three patients are in isolation in their homes.

The U.S. coronavirus death toll rose to 12 after another person was reported dead in Washington state, and more than 220 people have been infected with the disease.

The global death toll from the virus, officially known as COVID-19, is more than 3,200, with over 95,000 cases of infection.

After declaring the outbreak an international health emergency, the World Health Organization last week updated the global risk level to “very high.”