August 18th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

Gov. Larry Hogan says all 227 nursing homes in the state, and all hospital employees (including UPMC Western Maryland), will now requiring all staff to show proof of vaccination of get regular screening and tests. The requirement is effective immediately. People have until Sept. 1 to get the first dose. Fines will be doubled at nursing homes for failure to comply with the requirement.

Gov. Hogan says 79% of all nursing home staff have been vaccinated, but says he’s concerned about the locations with the lowest vaccination rates.

The Maryland Department of Health released updated coronavirus numbers Wednesday morning.

As of 10:00 a.m. there are 482,581 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland, 1,012 cases have been reported in Maryland in 24 hours.

Gov. Hogan says the Delta variant accounts for 100% of new cases being sequenced in Maryland right now.