Health & Safety
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On this page: Students, Faculty, Staff and Affiliates Coming to Campus | Visitors Coming to Campus | Special Health Conditions | When Masks Are Required | Enhanced Masks
We all have a responsibility to follow safety measures to help keep ourselves and members of the entire UMD community safe and healthy.
Students, Faculty, Staff and Affiliates Coming to Campus
Check your status for coming to campus anytime at return.umd.edu. You will see if there are any steps you need to complete.
All faculty, staff and students, regardless of vaccination status, must:
- Boost: Up-to-date vaccination is required for all on-campus students, faculty, staff and affiliates. This includes obtaining an mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine booster within 14 days of becoming eligible. See vaccination requirements
- Test: If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been identified as a close contact, you should follow testing guidelines.
- Mask: The indoor mask mandate on campus has been lifted for all faculty, staff, students and visitors, with a few notable exceptions. Given the recent increase in cases, wearing a KN95 mask indoors in all situations is strongly encouraged. See when you are required to wear a mask.
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Pledge:All faculty, staff and students must sign the I AM #4Maryland pledge to abide by all health protocols.
For Students Arriving from Outside the United States
- Important information is available from the University Health Center. Please make every effort to receive your booster before your arrival. If you don't currently have access to the Pfizer or Moderna booster at your location, please contact ISSS for information on how to meet your booster requirement immediately upon your arrival.
If You Are Up-to-Date on COVID-19 Vaccines:
Your vaccines are up-to-date when you have received your primary series of COVID-19 vaccines and any booster dose(s) when eligible.
If your vaccines are up-to-date, you:
- do not need to be tested regularly.
- do not need to wear a mask indoors, with a few notable exceptions.
- do not need to quarantine if you come into contact with a positive individual, unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.
If you have not yet confirmed your vaccine or booster information with the University, please visit myuhc.umd.edu and click “Enter My COVID-19 Vaccination Information.”
If You Are Unvaccinated or Not Up-to-Date on Vaccines:
If you are unvaccinated or not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of exemption status, you:
- do not need to be tested regularly.
- do not need to wear a mask indoors, with a few notable exceptions.
- are required to sign a memorandum acknowledging the health risks of being unvaccinated.
Visitors Coming to Campus
Please review these guidelines before coming to campus. All visitors on campus are expected to abide by the UMD campus health and safety guidelines, including masking guidelines.
Special Health Conditions
Individuals with a weakened or compromised immune system are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19, including an increased risk of hospitalization and death. Many conditions and treatments can cause a person to be “immunocompromised” or have a weakened immune system.
Even when your vaccines are up-to-date, if you have a weakened immune system, you may need to continue to take precautions to maximally protect yourself. You are strongly encouraged to:
- Wear a mask at all times when in public spaces, both indoors and outdoors.
- Maintain 6 feet of physical distancing at all times.
- Contact your healthcare provider for recommendations regarding specific precautions that may apply in your situation. UMD may offer appropriate adjustments and/or accommodations based on a letter from your healthcare provider.
- Contact your healthcare provider immediately for advice and further treatment should you begin to feel unwell.
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Discuss with your healthcare provider whether you would benefit from an additional vaccine dose.
If you are unvaccinated and have a weakened or compromised immune system, you are at the highest risk for contracting and becoming severely ill from the virus. In addition to the above precautions, you are strongly advised against returning to campus until your vaccines are up-to-date and/or you have a statement from your physician listing the accommodations and adjustments required in your situation.
When Masks Are Required
Faculty, staff, students and visitors on campus are not required to wear a mask indoors, with a few notable exceptions:
- KN95 masks will continue to be required in all classroom settings, including shared laboratories and other instructional spaces. This measure remains in place out of an abundance of caution, given the increased density over a prolonged period of time in many instructional settings. Instructors may continue to remove their masks while teaching, provided they maintain 6 feet distance from others.
- Anyone who is positive or has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone with the virus is required to wear a mask and follow all other campus isolation and quarantine requirements.
- Masks continue to be required on all public transportation, including Shuttle-UM buses.
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Masks continue to be required in all patient care areas, including, but not limited to, the University Health Center and all COVID-19 testing locations.
Masks are not required in offices, dining halls, residence halls or at athletic events.
This follows an announcement by Governor Larry Hogan lifting indoor mask requirements in all state buildings and the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) updated guidance.
Mask Requirements: Frequently Asked Questions
Out of an abundance of caution and to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, UMD decided to adopt a gradual approach to withdrawing our masking requirements. Our approach is consistent with that of the Prince George’s County Public School system, which is maintaining its indoor mask mandate for the time being. Although individuals may have a choice whether to attend other indoor meetings and activities, they don’t have a choice about whether to attend class.
The COVID-19 virus is still present in our community and continues to cause substantial morbidity and mortality to those who are immunocompromised and vulnerable even if they have received vaccines and boosters. In addition, there are no vaccines yet available for children under 5, and many members of our community have young children that would likely be exposed to the virus without being able to protect themselves should classroom spread occur. Finally, Paxlovid, the most effective recently authorized antiviral pill for the treatment of COVID-19 is not yet widely available.
As we continue to assess the impact of the new Prince George’s County and CDC guidance on COVID-19 levels and indicators in coming weeks, we will make additional changes as warranted.
If someone has symptoms of or is positive for COVID-19, or has been a close contact, wearing a mask is required. This is included in the campus’ isolation and quarantine requirements, which remain in effect. This requirement is also consistent with CDC guidance.
The requirement for masking in classroom settings was based more on the fact that attending class is mandatory and, therefore, exposure in this setting cannot be avoided. Additionally, the duration of time together in the classroom, repeatedly each week, contributes to the need for masking to continue in these settings. Gathering size is not a factor, therefore, masking would not be required for other in-person gatherings. Individuals attending such gatherings can choose to wear a mask.
Individual units should follow the UMD policy and not make their own policies regarding masking. The University Health Center (UHC) will work with units who have specific concerns on a case-by-case basis.
KN95 masks are still available for pick-up at the Stamp Student Union Information Desk. In addition, departments can still order KN95 masks from Procurement for their employees.
Enhanced Masks and Wearing Masks Effectively
Type of Mask: A KN95 mask provides better protection for you and reduces the spread of the virus from someone wearing one. You are also less likely to develop COVID-19 after close contact with someone who tested positive when wearing a KN95 mask. These masks are extremely effective as they can filter 95% of the virus particles in the air.
This is based on updated recommendations from the CDC on mask usage by the general public.
Where to Get Your Mask
- The Stamp Student Union Information Desk has masks available to all students, faculty and staff.
- Staff and faculty can also work directly with their supervisor.
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Departments can order KN95 face masks for employees from Procurement.
Using and Caring for KN95 Masks: Guidance from UMD’s Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk.
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Feedback
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