Coronavirus Update #131
REMINDER: Important Survey - Please Complete ASAP

As we shared last week, the Maryland Department of Health released this memorandum.

We are working with the Maryland Department of Health to determine if nursing homes have adequate PPE to meet the standards of the memo. Please fill out this simple yes/no survey once per center as soon as possible. This survey is for nursing homes only.
Memo Text and Links

This memo provides information regarding the second round of nursing home testing. Based on CDC guidance, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Guidance for Relaxation of Restrictions Implemented During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Nursing Homes of June 18 2020, and the Secretary’s Amended Directive and Order Regarding Nursing Home Matters of June 19, 2020, all nursing homes in Maryland are required to continue testing for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.


  • Nursing homes without an active COVID-19 outbreak must test all staff.

  • Individuals who have tested positive within eight weeks do not need to be retested if:
  1. They have completed isolation based on a time, test, or symptom-based strategy per CDC guidelines, and
  2. Have remained asymptomatic for COVID-19 symptoms.

In this second round of testing, MDH is coordinating free testing for all nursing homes through one of two laboratories; either the University of Maryland Medical School (UMB) Lab or CIAN Diagnostics Lab.

Nursing homes will be contacted by one of these two labs to offer testing and collect the information needed to order the tests. To support the ongoing testing efforts, all nursing homes should maintain rosters of their residents and staff and use these rosters in ordering COVID-19 tests from the labs. The labs will communicate any specifics needed for ordering directly to the nursing homes.

If you have lab related issues, you should call the lab. If you have public health questions or concerns, you should call your local health department.
Did you miss HFAM's previous alerts?

Visit our website to view all previous HFAM alerts, as well as guidance
from our federal and state partners.
Thank you.

We cannot thank you enough for the dedication and diligence in doing all that you can for the residents in your communities. HFAM continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic with our state and national partners and will do all we can to support you during this time.