Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. COVID News & Announcements
  3. Health Information Regarding 2019 Novel Coronavirus

Health Information Regarding 2019 Novel Coronavirus

January 24, 2020

Dear Campus Community:
 
Following our recent communication on January 22, we are updating the university community on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and comprehensive steps the university is taking to keep our community safe, healthy and informed. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the coronavirus a serious but not immediate health risk to the general American public. The coronavirus is a new virus for humans and was first identified in China. There are two confirmed cases in the United States in the states of Washington and Illinois, as of this morning. 
There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the State of Maryland or within the UMD community that have been reported to us by the State or Prince George’s County Health Departments. If this situation changes, we are committed to keeping the UMD community informed. For the latest updates on campus efforts and information, please visit health.umd.edu/coronavirus.
  
Information for People Who Have Recently Traveled to China
  • If you have recently traveled to Hubei Province/China and are experiencing fever (greater than 100˚F or 37.8˚C), cough, or difficulty breathing, report immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department. If possible, call ahead to alert the facility of your symptoms and travel history. When you arrive at the facility, notify personnel immediately of your symptoms and travel history. 
  • If you have mild symptoms and a lower temperature, appointments are available at the University Health Center (UHC). 
  • Flu activity is high in the U.S. and expected to continue for weeks. The UHC is performing confirmatory tests for influenza. Anyone who has not received a flu vaccine this season should consider getting the vaccine. Flu shots are available at the UHC.  
  • The University of Maryland campuses in College Park and Baltimore are coordinating efforts to screen for potential cases of Novel Coronavirus. We are offering screening for  coronavirus to returning travellers from China concerned about possible exposure, even if you only have mild respiratory symptoms. Individuals who fit the CDC guidelines for possible coronavirus infection will be tested by the CDC laboratory.

Information for People with Underlying Health Conditions or Who Take Medicines that Suppress Their Immune System   
  • If you are experiencing a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, visit your healthcare provider immediately.
  • Notify the UHC of your medical history so that we can send you updated information as it becomes available. 
  • Get your yearly flu shot to prevent complications. 

Information for Everyone
We recommend that everyone take preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, including:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people. 
  • While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. 
  • If you have mild symptoms and a lower temperature, make an appointment at the University Health Center (UHC). Individuals visiting the UHC with influenza-like illness will be tested for influenza which is widespread in the US. 
  • Get your yearly flu shot to prevent complications.

To supplement individuals’ efforts to maintain hygiene that reduces transmission of viruses, the university is also taking extra steps to increase cleaning of high-touch surfaces and restrooms in university buildings, residence halls, fraternity and sorority housing, recreation facilities, the Stamp Student Union, and Shuttle-UM buses.
For the latest updates from the CDC, please click here. 
 
 
In Health, 
 
Sacared Bodison, MD
Interim Director, University Health Center

About

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and nearly 400,000 alumni all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., we discover and share new knowledge every day through our renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And we are committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus.

DO GOOD 

Introducing The Nation's First Do Good Campus Transforming Idealism into Impact 

Academics

Spanning 12 schools and colleges, Maryland offers more than 300 degree-granting programs, many of them ranked among the best in the country. Our faculty includes two Nobel laureates, three Pulitzer Prize winners, 58 members of the national academies and scores of Fulbright scholars. And our students, who include the highest achievers in the state and nation, enjoy experiences unique to our location just outside the nation’s capital, including internships, research, and leadership and service opportunities.

Schools and Colleges

Research and Innovation

The University of Maryland is one of the world’s premier research institutions. With our strategic location and scores of partnerships with government and businesses, UMD conducts groundbreaking research on some of the biggest challenges facing our global community, including cybersecurity and terrorism, bioengineering, public health equity, food safety and climate change. We strive to discover new knowledge and put it to work through innovation and entrepreneurship, advancing economic development and transforming lives. 

The newly launched Innovation Gateway will guide you to the resources, programs, partners, and spaces you need to activate and scale your fearless ideas into innovations that launch new ventures, catalyze growth, and advance economic development.

Arts

At the University of Maryland, the arts, the humanities and the sciences intersect to address important societal issues and shed new light on the human experience. Our vibrant campus arts community collaborates with local and national cultural organizations such as the Phillips Collection, Kennedy Center and Folger Shakespeare Library. Student and faculty artists, designers, historians, writers and performers are exploring new media, presenting new perspectives, investigating new techniques and engaging new audiences.

Events

Athletics

Home of the Terrapins, the University of Maryland has one of the nation’s most recognizable and successful athletics programs. More than 550 student-athletes compete each year in 20 intercollegiate sports—12 for women and eight for men. Since 2005 alone, Maryland has won 19 national championships, including NCAA titles in women’s basketball, men’s soccer, men's lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and field hockey. Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2014, UMD has won a combined 32 regular season and tournament championships. Fear the Turtle!

Student Life

The Terp experience extends beyond classrooms, labs and studios. It encompasses residence halls and dining halls, clubs and sports, fraternities and sororities, campus events and performances, and countless off-campus destinations. Maryland touts 800-plus student organizations, dozens of prestigious living and learning communities, and countless other ways to get involved. Students here can create a unique identity and grow as individuals, even as they’re part of a close-knit and diverse community. 

On Campus

Keep Learning! Earn up to four credits in just three weeks. Courses offered on campus or anywhere online. Meet your goals with University of Maryland’s Winter Session, January 2-22, 2024. Learn more at winter.umd.edu.

Read More

News

Latest news at Maryland Today

For media releases visit UMD Right Now

Events

Explore events on the Campus Calendar

Terps are bold, smart, curious and proud. We do good, in our communities and out in the world. We are fearless. And we are always looking to expand our ranks. Interested in becoming a University of Maryland student? This is where to start.

 

Undergraduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions

Give to Maryland

Giving back is a fearless Terp tradition, and there are many ways you can not only keep it alive, but also make an instant impact. 

M Circle on the University of Maryland campus

 

Give Now

Maryland Promise Students

Support the Clark Challenge for the Maryland Promise Scholarship and double your impact through the Clark Challenge.

 

Clark Challenge for the Maryland Promise