Senior Centers In Harford County To Close Friday, March 13

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Senior centers in Harford County will close starting Friday, March 13, according to Harford County government. The county executive issued the order Thursday as a way to protect older adults from the new coronavirus.

"Public health officials tell us that seniors are more vulnerable to coronavirus," County Executive Barry Glassman said in a statement, "so we are taking this step to reduce their chances of infection and to keep them safe."

There is one confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in Harford County. An 86-year-old woman who traveled abroad became ill about a week later and was hospitalized. Her current status is unknown. She told state health officials she did not leave home after returning from her trip except to go to the hospital.

Harford County said in a statement Thursday that there was "no indication of coronavirus infection at Harford County senior centers."

Harford County runs four senior centers — in Bel Air, Fallston, Edgewood and Havre de Grace — from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at facilities that turn into activity centers for all ages after 3:30 p.m., according to a statement from Harford County government.

"The activity centers will continue normal operations at this time," Harford County government reported Thursday.

Senior center closures will begin Friday and continue until further notice.

If the senior center closures impact classes that begin March 30, officials said the Harford County Office on Aging will post information on its website.

Seniors with "a critical concern" about the senior center closures may call the Office on Aging at 410-638-3025.

"We continue to encourage all of our residents to stay calm and stay informed through our state and local health departments and other reliable sources," Glassman said.

Here are the pages for the Harford County Health Department, the Maryland Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

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