As more coronavirus cases spread throughout Maryland, an acting manager has been tapped to head Baltimore’s emergency management office chiefly, responsible for developing a citywide plan to respond to the virus.

In a written statement to WYPR, Mayor Young said Charles Svehla, the Assistant Chief of Operations with the Baltimore City Fire Department, will now serve as acting Emergency Manager for the City. Svehla is the Assistant Chief of Operations with the Baltimore City Fire Department, where he is responsible for creating and implementing operational procedures.

The mayor’s office would not confirm with WYPR whether David McMillan, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, was still with the office. The MOEM did not immediately return a request for comment from WYPR.

The office’s website says its mission is “to maintain the highest level of preparedness to protect Baltimore’s citizens, workers, visitors, and environment from the impact of natural and man-made disasters.” It’s responsible for implementing comprehensive plans for disaster mitigation that include preparedness, response and recovery.

“We have a supremely qualified team of emergency management professionals heading up the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Collectively, they have over 85 years of expertise in incident and emergency management,” the Democrat said.

Svehla will be joined by two additions to the office: Chief James Wallace and Captain Scott Brillman, who will handle the day-to-day operations. Wallace previously served as Battalion Chief of Special Operations. Brillman, formerly 911 Director, previously served as Emergency Preparedness Manager with OEM.

The virus has been documented in at least 114 countries and killed more than 4,000 people. The World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday. There are no confirmed cases in Baltimore.

McMillan’s online city biography says he joined the city’s emergency management office in 2011.

“Mr. McMillan has helped the City effectively execute its emergency operations plan during a number of notable incidents and specials events, including Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, Hurricane Sandy, the 2011 Derecho Storm system, the 2015 Baltimore Civil Unrest, Winter Storm Jonas, both Baltimore Grand Prix, and both the Star Spangled Sailabration and Spectacular,” his biography states.

As of Thursday morning, there are more than a dozen confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland. The first case in Baltimore County was reported Wednesday evening.

For state and national updates on COVID-19, visit the Maryland Department of Health’s website.

Read the answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 here.

Learn 5 ways to prevent and prepare for the COVID-19 here.