WASHINGTON, DC -- Presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are telling their campaign staffers to work from home as the coronavirus outbreak spreads. That word went out Thursday as the candidates canceled rallies in favor of virtual events.
The Democratic National Committee moved Sunday night's debate from Phoenix to Washington, DC.
President Trump's re-election campaign staff were told Thursday evening to work from home while the campaign's Washington office gets a deep cleaning from now through Monday.
Maryland state employees are taking heed. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has announced a series of actions that aim to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The activation level of the State Operations Center has been increased to fully coordinate a full response to the coronavirus and the National Guard has also been activated.
All Maryland public schools will close for two weeks starting on Monday in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus and gatherings of more than 250 people, including social, community, spiritual, religious, recreational, leisure, and sporting gatherings, are prohibited.
All senior citizen activities centers will close March 13th and the governor has ordered all non-essential government employees to telework.The cruise ship terminal at the Port of Baltimore has been closed and visits to prisons and state buildings are suspended.
The restrictions were announced after Maryland health officials confirmed the state's first known case of community transmission of the virus.
The private sector is also taking extra precautions. Thousands of Procter and Gamble employees will be working from home for the rest of the month.
The company told its North American workers to work remotely to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.Company officials say reducing the number of people in their offices will improve the recommended social distance of six feet.