Kent County Health Department Announces First Resident Death to COVID-19

APRIL 14, 2020- Today, the Kent County Health Department has confirmed the first death of a Kent County resident related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. The individual was a man in his 70s.

“We want his family and loved ones to know that we are deeply saddened by the news of his passing, and we express our sympathies during this very difficult time,” said William Webb, Health Officer.

“This pandemic represents an unprecedented crisis for our community and our nation. We are confronting this pandemic head-on and working tirelessly to protect the well-being of our residents. People of Kent County are resilient, we support one another in times of need, and we will continue to hold each other up as we do everything we can to contain the spread of this virus and work to prevent further loss of life.”

We understand that many are going through very difficult times. If you are experiencing current distress and would like to talk to a trained crisis counselor, please call SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. The Helpline is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

To learn how to protect yourself and others, visit Maryland’s web page at coronavirus.maryland.gov or the Kent County Health Department’s web page at kenthd.org, or call the COVID-19 Call Center at 410-778-1350.
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