WCBC

April 29th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

After data released by the order of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan showed that nearly half of the people whose deaths have been linked to COVID-19 were nursing home residents, Hogan issued orders aimed at further protecting a population most at risk.  WBAL reports that Hogan on Wednesday mandated universal testing of all residents and staff at nursing homes, regardless of whether they are symptomatic. Statewide, nursing homes account for 4,369 of the state's 20,849 cases and 471 of the 985 deaths linked to COVID-19, according to statistics released Wednesday morning by the Maryland Department of Health. Nursing homes will be prioritized for tests based on whether an outbreak is imminent or threatened. All nursing homes will be ordered to comply with strike teams and all must have a practitioner evaluate all residents on a daily basis. Hogan said he is requiring nursing home operators to keep families apprised of conditions at their facilities, something he noted that most operators were doing. However, he said he was "concerned and quite outraged that a few operators are not complying with directives of the state