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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: Vaccinations are required for all students, faculty, staff and affiliates. This includes obtaining a mRNA (Pfizer or Moderna) vaccine booster by January 24, 2022 or within 14 days of becoming eligible. See vaccination requirements
• Test: Be tested by a rapid antigen test (including home tests) or a PCR test no more than 48 hours before coming to campus on January 24. Find testing options.
  • During the semester, you may need to be tested for COVID-19 and attest your results, depending on your vaccination status. See testing requirements.
• Mask: Wear masks at all times while indoors; KN95 masks are required in all classroom settings and recommended everywhere. There are additional situations when masks may be required. See when you are required to wear a mask.
• Pledge:All faculty, staff and students must sign the I AM #4Maryland pledge to abide by all health protocols.
   

For Students

• Students arriving from outside the United States: 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 quarantine if you come into contact with a positive individual, unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.
• are required to wear a mask indoors at all times. KN95 masks are required in classroom settings and recommended elsewhere.

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:

• are required to wear a mask indoors at all times and while outdoors in crowded spaces. KN95 masks are required in classroom settings and recommended elsewhere.
• are required to sign a memorandum acknowledging the health risks of being unvaccinated.
• are required to comply with regular, twice-a-week on-campus COVID-19 testing.

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 wearing a mask or face covering in all indoor spaces.

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.
• 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

Masks must be worn indoors by all, regardless of vaccination status.

• If you are unvaccinated, you are expected to wear a KN95 mask indoors.
• Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should wear a KN95 mask when around large groups, including in residence halls.
• KN95 masks are required in all classroom settings.
   

Masks are also required in the following situations even if you are up-to-date on vaccines:

• On public transportation (including Shuttle-UM and school buses)
• While participating in activities involving K-12 students (such as in summer camps, daycare, etc.)
• While obtaining healthcare services (including on-campus COVID-19 testing)
• While visiting campus as a guest or visitor, including affiliates, in all indoor spaces
   

If you are NOT fully vaccinated you must also wear a mask in all crowded outdoor spaces. You are strongly encouraged to wear a mask at all times for your own protection and are expected to wear a KN95 mask.

We encourage everyone to wear masks at all crowded outdoor events, regardless of vaccination status. At outdoor athletic events, all fans will be required to wear masks in all indoor spaces, including suites and restrooms. Complete information about COVID protocols at athletic events can be found here.

Masks may be removed indoors under the following circumstances:

• If you are by yourself inside a room, office, laboratory or study area;
• In residence hall rooms/suites/apartments, only with roommates; and
• Momentarily when eating or drinking.
• If you are unvaccinated, regardless of exemption status, please be seated 6 feet from others.
• Instructors and presenters who are fully vaccinated may choose to remove their mask while teaching or speaking to a group, provided they can maintain at least six feet of physical distance from all other persons at all times and everyone in the audience is masked.
   

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.
• Departments are responsible for providing KN95 face masks to employees for use in large groups, including classrooms and residence halls. Please visit the Printing Services Digital Storefront to order them for faculty and staff.
• The Biden administration plans to make high-quality N95 masks available free to all American adults at pharmacies and federal community health centers; additional information is forthcoming.
   

Using and Caring for KN95 Masks: Guidance from UMD’s Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk.

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