A coronavirus patient has died at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. The patient, whom hospital officials did not name, is the first local victim of the worldwide pandemic.

State health officials said late Saturday that the patient was a woman in her 60s.

“We are saddened to report the passing of the first patient under our care who had tested positive for COVID-19, hospital spokesman Roger Follebout said in a statement.

“As the disease progresses across our nation, state and region, this is a somber reality being faced by a number of hospitals, healthcare systems, communities and families. Our medical team went to extraordinary efforts to care for this patient, and our hearts remain with the patient’s family, friends and loved ones.”

Follebout said health officials continue to encourage the public to continue vigorous and regular hand hygiene, practice social distancing and to stay at home to avoid catching or passing this virus. If you have symptoms or concerns, call the COVID-19 Information and Triage Line at 410-912-6889.

On Friday, it was confirmed that Wicomico County is now up to six confirmed cases of patients with the coronavirus. The total number of people being treated for the novel virus has grown slowly but steadily; the first report of a single case came seven days ago.

Wicomico County Health Department officials said the sixth case is a man in his 50s. Officials will continue to do in-depth contact tracing for those who have been in contact with the confirmed cases.

If someone has been in contact with a confirmed case, they will be notified.

Maryland as of Friday had 774 confirmed cases of COVID-19 — an increase of 425 cases over the last three days.

There are now more than 1,500 confirmed cases in the National Capital Region — in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia.

That’s about 4.5 times more than just one week ago.

“Over the last three days, the number of COVID-19 cases in Maryland has more than doubled. Cases in the National Capital Region have more than quadrupled over the last week alone,” said Gov. Larry Hogan. “There is no timetable and no model that can tell us exactly how long this will last or how bad this is going to get.”

President Trump on Thursday approved Hogan’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration that will drive more resources to our coordinated response.

“Our state has already faced and overcome daunting challenges before, and we will do so again,” Hogan said.

Delaware announced its first two official coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday. The deceased were a 66-year-old man from Sussex County and an 86-year-old man living at the Little Sisters of the Poor Jeanne Jugan Residence in Newark, the Division of Public Health said.

The source of exposure for both cases is still being investigated by DPH.