Notice: Nursing Homes COVID-19 Specimen Collection Due Date - 6/5/20
The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) just released
this letter
from Secretary Neall regarding testing and lab submission.
Nursing homes are directed to use test kits delivered by the National Guard to complete the contemporaneous COVID-19 test specimen collection on 100% of nursing home residents and staff. It is essential that all nursing homes conduct specimen collection promptly.
MDH requires specimens from 100% of residents and all available staff be collected and submitted to the designated laboratory for testing no later than
June 5, 2020.
The Maryland National Guard will follow-up with a telephone survey of all 227 facilities to ensure all testing is completed and to address questions and concerns about universal testing. As previously noted, assistance with staff shortages due to temporary loss of asymptomatic positive staff is available through the Chesapeake Registry and from Bridge Teams as necessary.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your local health department or Col. Eric Allely at
[email protected].
