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Health & Safety Plan

←Return to the Fall 2020 Reopening Plan

The university has developed a multifaceted and integrated plan for COVID-19 surveillance, testing and early warning.

Requirements for Returning to Campus

• Online training video and pledge that all students, faculty and staff must complete prior to returning to campus, agreeing to abide by CDC-recommended health and safety regulations. (Employee online training and pledge | Student online training and pledge)
• Daily self-monitoring and reporting of temperature and any onset symptoms by all faculty, staff and students who are on campus. 
• Mandatory COVID-19 testing for all students and employees prior to returning to campus.

The university's health and safety plan contains five components to safely reopen and operate the campus, with early detection of infectious cases as the key to limit outbreaks.

1. Contact tracing. Any positive diagnostic test result will be communicated immediately to the state health authorities, who will then activate a contact tracing team to identify potential secondary cases to limit the spread of infection.

2. Environmental monitoring. UMD faculty experts are developing opportunities for early detection of impending illnesses by monitoring wastewater, air and high-touch surfaces in campus buildings.

3. Behavioral changes. A campus-wide health information campaign will promotes critical health behaviors:

1
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Wear a face covering at all times indoors and outdoors when other people are nearby.

2
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Stay at least 6 feet from others at all times.

3
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Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable.

4
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If you are sick, do not report to work or class.

4. Cleaning protocols. All buildings approved for occupancy will be cleaned on a regular basis, including enhanced cleaning of high-traffic areas.

• All classrooms used for in-person instruction will be equipped with disinfectant wipes for surfaces such as seats, desks and tables between each class.
• Instructors will be asked to allow time for students to sanitize their work area before class and to similarly sanitize their own work area and whatever equipment they plan to use for the class.
• Classroom seating will be arranged or marked to indicate safe seating distances.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be available in proximity to classrooms.
• Classrooms and high-touch areas in buildings will be cleaned and disinfected nightly.
• Instructors will be expected to deliver handouts and other types of course material digitally through ELMS-CANVAS to minimize the exchange of papers or any other instruction materials.
• Signs will be posted to direct one-way traffic within busy campus buildings and to indicate safe distancing to minimize the likelihood of congestion in hallways, at entrances, restrooms, etc.
• Cleaning frequency will be increased in community restrooms and high-touch areas in residence halls such as elevator buttons, water fountains and door handles. 

5. Employee flexibility. In general, the university encourages flexibility for employees, including graduate assistants. Departments should consider use of alternative work schedules, such as some on-campus work days and some telework days, use of leave and flexibility with starting and finishing times. University Human Resources has created handbooks for employees and supervisors:

• For employees: Working Through COVID-19: Returning to Campus
• For supervisors: Managing Through COVID-19: Returning to Campus

Community Responsibility Pledge (PDF) / 4 Maryland Health Guidelines and Campaign Toolkit