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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.
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:
For Students Arriving from Outside the United States
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:
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 COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of exemption status, you:
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.
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:
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.
Faculty, staff, students and visitors on campus are not required to wear a mask indoors, with a few notable exceptions:
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.
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.
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.
Using and Caring for KN95 Masks: Guidance from UMD’s Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk.
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