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More dramatic increases in Covid-19 cases in DMV, Gov. Hogan issues new Emergency Orders

As of this Sunday, Maryland is reporting 3,609 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Nearly 25,000 people have tested negative for the virus, 936 have been hospitalized, 159 have recovered and released from isolation, and there are 67 deaths. 

Effective immediately, nursing home staff who interact with residents MUST wear PPE, including a face mask, appropriate eye protection, gloves, and gown. There is a process in place for facilities to request PPE from state and local health departments.

All facilities must use the most expeditious means available for testing. This includes using either a COVID-19 test kit provided by the state laboratory or another lab to send specimens to the state laboratory for expedited COVID-19 testing. The state's Office of Health Care Quality will work directly with hospitals to place discharged patients who require nursing home-level care. Facilities must cooperate with the state on the placement process. The order makes good-faith compliance with these orders mandatory. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in prison, or a $5,000 fine, or both.

Facilities should avoid private labs to the extent possible, as they have longer processing times. Symptomatic nursing home residents are already among the priority groups for testing. Facilities must designate certain staff to care for COVID-19 cases, must create separate observation area for newly admitted and readmitted residents, must designate a separate unit to care for residents who are known/suspected cases. Effective immediately, nursing home staff who interact with residents must wear PPE, including a face mask, appropriate eye protection, gloves, and gown. There is a process in place for facilities to request PPE from state and local health departments.

Police in Baltimore's southwest district are self-quarantining after an officer tested positive for coronavirus. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison ordered all the other officers at the station to go into quarantine mode as a precaution.  Mayor Jack Young said the move will help protect the health of officers and the community. All units assigned to the station are being sanitized.

Health officials in Carroll County say four people have died at two nursing homes from coronavirus complications.  The report issued yesterday says three of the deaths happened at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Mt. Airy and the fourth death happened at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster.   All four victims were 60-or older and suffered from underlying conditions besides coronavirus.