March 10th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday instructed nursing homes and similar facilities to redouble efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In remarks delivered before an emergency Cabinet meeting, the governor said he had met earlier Tuesday with representatives of the long-term care community. As of Tuesday afternoon, Maryland has recorded eight confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, which has sickened at least 750 people and killed 26 nationwide.

"Federal health officials continue to stress that as we continue to expand testing, we should expect that the number of cases will continue to dramatically and rapidly rise, and the state of Maryland and the nation will shift from containment to mitigation," Hogan said.

Hogan said he wanted to avoid a situation like that at a Seattle-area nursing home where 19 residents have died and another 31 have tested positive for the virus.

Hogan said workers at long-term care facilities should avoid international travel and should leave work if they experience possible symptoms of the coronavirus.

"I want to continue to remind everyone that this is truly an all-hands-on-deck operation and it is going to get worse before it gets better," Hogan said