Governor Hogan Announces Indoor Visits to Nursing Communities Can Resume

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced this past Friday that indoor visitation may resume at state nursing communities where no new COVID-19 cases have been reported in two weeks or more, reports the Southern Maryland Chronicle . Hogan said in accordance with new federal and state guidelines, nursing and assisted living communities can begin allowing limited indoor visitation, as well as compassionate care visits to support residents who may require emotional and spiritual aid. Qualifying communities must have no active cases in the last 14 days and no outbreak testing in progress. State health officials also are implementing new testing guidance expanding the use of rapid antigen tests — which could be used for visitor screening — while continuing to require regular diagnostic testing depending on local conditions. Maryland will allocate an additional $6 million to help communities cover the cost of staff testing. The state has so far committed nearly $102 million to testing and personal protective equipment for nursing communities.