Maryland To Open More Testing Sites; Set To Distribute 20M Masks

Gov Hogan Upgrades Fight To Slow COVID Spread

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland is opening six new hospital-based COVID-19 testing sites, Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday.

Hogan made the announcement at one of the new locations at University of Maryland Shore Regional Health in Easton.

The new locations are on track to be fully operational and open each day with no appointment necessary by the end of next week.

The other locations are TidalHealth in Wicomico County; Garrett Regional Medical Center in Garrett County; Holy Cross Germantown Hospital in Montgomery County; Howard County General Hospital; and University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Anne Arundel County.

Last week, the governor announced 10 other locations for hospital-based testing sites.

On Thursday, Hogan also announced plans to distribute 20 million masks around the state. The N95 and KN95 masks will be distributed to Marylanders next week at no cost, through local health departments, state-run testing and vaccination sites, and nursing homes.