President Donald J. Trump’s administration smacks Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) over nursing home inspections amid Covid-19. And Montgomery County is defying the governor’s executive order school closures.
The Baltimore Sun is reporting the Trump administration fired off a damning letter that slams Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration’s “for a lack of coronavirus pandemic-related inspections of nursing homes.”
The letter was signed by Seema Verma who is the head of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Verma’s letter said Maryland missed federally mandated deadlines and inspected about only half of its nursing homes.
“Hogan officials disputed the letter,” the Sun reported, saying 169 nursing homes in the state — nearly 75% — had been inspected according to the federal process.
“The Maryland Department of Health also said it’s already informed the federal agency that the remaining surveys will be completed in the next two weeks.”
Nursing home inspections are a federal requirement – but states are responsible for overseeing the process.
The governor’s administration said previously that a lack of personal protective gear delayed state nursing home inspections.
4,596 Maryland nursing home residents tested positive for COVID-19, Verma wrote, and 1,133 residents have died.
Maryland ranks seventh in the nation for cases per 1,000 residents and ninth for deaths overall, The Sun reported.
Unelected County Health Officer Defies Hogan’s Executive Order Over School Closures
Montgomery County is defying Governor Hogan’s executive order that says local jurisdictions cannot halt schools from opening this fall.
Last Friday, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles announced a directive that will close non-public schools until at least Oct. 1, citing safety concerns posed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The governor tweeted Saturday that he strongly disagrees with the Montgomery County’s directive.
Thousands of parents began to organize online over the weekend; a Facebook group was formed that amassed nearly 4000 people in a matter of days; an online petition was created that drew thousands of signers, and a rally was held Wednesday in Rockville to protest the county’s order.
Moreover, a few parents filed a federal lawsuit challenging Gayes’ order.
So then Monday came.
Hogan issued an executive order preventing local jurisdictions from closing all schools as Covid-19 rages on.
But on Wednesday, Montgomery County gave the proverbial finger to the governor.
County Health Officer Gayles issued a new county directive that again orders all non-public schools in Montgomery County to remain closed for in-person instruction until Oct. 1.
So, what now?
Hogan spokesman Mike Ricci said they are reviewing Montgomery County’s order.
NOTE: Larry Hogan is a duly, twice-elected governor.
On the other hand, Dr. Travis Gayles is an unelected, appointed county official.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, a Democrat, said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters that he and the governor aren’t even conversing on the topic.
Which high-profile Washington lawyer is going to have her or his payday?
About News in 5 Minutes or Less
Each weekday, A Miner Detail Editor in Chief Ryan Miner breaks down two Maryland trending news topics in five minutes or less.
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