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Message from the University Health Center to UMD Faculty and Staff
August 20, 2020
Dear UMD Staff and Faculty,
As we continue the phased, safe reopening of campus, we wanted to provide the most updated health guidance and safety information about what you can expect on campus, how to best protect yourself and others, and what will happen if you or one of your colleagues gets COVID-19.
I hope this information is helpful for you. Should you have any questions or concerns, please email me at
healthconcerns@umd.edu.
Stay well,
Sacared Bodison, M.D.
Interim Director, University Health Center
SPREAD:
The COVID-19 virus is spread mainly from person to person in
close contact when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes and virus droplets are inhaled through the mouth or nose of a person who is nearby. COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not feeling ill.
It is important to always wear a face covering at work and practice physical distancing (6 feet or more) while you are near others. Frequent handwashing or use of hand sanitizer is also important.
Examples of Close Contacts Are:
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Carpooling together for more than 15 minutes, car windows up.
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Eating lunch with no face coverings, across a table, less than 6 feet apart.
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Having a conversation in an office, less than 6 feet apart, no face coverings.
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Living together and not distancing.
Examples of Close Contacts are NOT:
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Passing someone in a hallway or being in the same building on the same day with someone who later tested positive.
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Walking between buildings together, outside, at a distance, using masks.
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Sharing a ride, face coverings on, windows down, less than 15 minutes.
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Riding on an elevator, wearing masks, obeying the maximum number of people.
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Cleaning spaces used by students as the employee was following distancing protocols, wearing gloves and using a face covering.
SYMPTOMS:
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
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Fever or chills
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Cough
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Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
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Fatigue
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Muscle or body aches
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Headache
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New loss of taste or smell
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Sore throat
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Congestion or runny nose
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Nausea or vomiting
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Diarrhea
TESTING:
All faculty and staff must have a PCR-based test
no more than 14 days prior to returning to work on campus
and begin daily symptom monitoring 14 days prior to arrival. For those who wish to be tested on campus, the university will be holding testing Monday through Friday during the week of August 31, September 14-16, and biweekly throughout the semester. You can sign-up for
testing on campus. If you wish to be tested at an off-campus location, click
here to find information about testing sites in your area.
Once an employee is tested, they will be notified of a positive or negative result. If the test result is positive, the University Health Center will contact the employee for early contact identification. If the result is negative, no further action is currently needed. Once the
return.umd.edu portal is updated as described in the next section, employees who receive a negative test result must report their results in the portal.
If a student, faculty or staff member reports to you that they have had a positive test, you must notify your supervisor. The Department and/or the employee should notify the UHC by emailing
healthconcerns@umd.edu or by calling the Heal Line (301-405-4325).
Anyone who had a positive test for COVID-19 in the past three months does not need to be tested. These individuals should contact
health@umd.edu with this information. You may be asked to provide documentation.
EARLY CONTACT IDENTIFICATION and CONTACT TRACING:
A key step in stopping the spread of COVID-19 is contact identification and contact tracing. Early contact identification is a step taken by the University Health Center upon learning of a positive case or that someone has symptoms of COVID-19. Contact tracing is conducted by the County Health Department.
1. Early Contact Identification by University Health Center (UHC): When the University Health Center (UHC) finds out someone has tested positive or has symptoms of COVID-19, Early Contact Identification steps will begin in order to find others on campus who may have been a close contact of that person. This will occur before or concurrently with the Health Department’s contact tracing. The earlier these individuals are identified and interviewed, the sooner they can begin quarantine and avoid exposing others.
2. Contact Tracing by the County Health Department: When someone tests positive for COVID-19, the County Health Department is notified by the testing agency. The person who tests positive will receive a phone call from the County Health Department to see who else might have been exposed. This is official Contact Tracing. You can read more about the Maryland State COVID Link System
here.
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Employees who are positive will be asked to remain home in self-isolation until one of the following:
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For those with symptoms, it has been 10 days since the onset of symptoms and they have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and symptoms are improved.
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For those who never had symptoms, they must self-isolate for 10 days since their positive test.
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In either case, employees will receive specific guidance from their healthcare provider or the Health Department Contact Tracer and must bring documentation from their provider or the Health Department upon their return to work.
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To stop the spread of COVID-19, the people who had close contact with the positive person will be contacted and asked to quarantine for 14 days from the last date of contact with the person who tested positive. The Health Department will not tell someone who potentially exposed them without permission.
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At UMD, employees are responsible for letting their supervisor or their Human Resources representative know that they have received a positive COVID-19 test; the University is not necessarily notified by the County Health Department. Employees are not responsible for contacting coworkers and should refrain from doing so.
STAFF AND DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Employees are required to:
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Use face coverings and practice physical distancing at work. You are also encouraged to do so away from work, and any time you are not in your home.
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Monitor your own symptoms daily; complete the online form before coming to work or verify that you are symptom-free with your supervisor upon arrival to work. Verbal confirmations are to be recorded in the assessment logs.
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Call the UHC Heal Line at 301-405-4325 if you experience any symptoms of COVID-19 or receive a positive test.
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Stay home and call your supervisor if:
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You receive positive test results OR
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You have been notified that they are a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
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If you become ill while at work, return home as quickly as possible, notify your supervisor by phone and call your doctor or the UHC Heal Line.
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Cooperate with early contact identification efforts by your department and/or the University Health Center and with County Health Department contact tracing activities. The caller ID from the MD Contact Tracing System is MD COVID, or phone number 240-460-4488 for those with caller ID. They will ask for verification of your date of birth, address, and any other phone numbers you may have. A contact investigator will never ask you for your social security number, financial or bank account information, or personal details unrelated to COVID-19. They will not ask for photographs or videos of any kind. They will not ask for your passwords. They will not ask for money or payment.
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Adhere to quarantine or isolation requirements.
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Contact University Human Resources’ Leave Management team (umdleave@umd.edu) for questions about leave eligibility.
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You will need to request a note from your healthcare provider or the Health Department when you are released to return to work and must provide it to your supervisor in order to return to work.
Supervisors are required to:
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Reinforce the need for face coverings and physical distancing on a daily basis.
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Maintain daily symptom monitoring assessment logs for their employees.
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Advise any employee who has symptoms to go or stay home and call the UHC Heal Line at 301-405-4325 (5-HEAL).
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Notify the department Director and the UHC Heal Line at 301-405-4325 (5-HEAL) if their employee reports symptoms, a positive test, or that the employee has been formally notified that they were exposed to the virus.
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Collaborate with each department’s Point of Contact, and UHC Early Contact Identifiers.
Health and Safety Requirements for All: Abide by the 4Maryland Community Standards. These standards should be published on the UMD Home Page and on signage on campus, including in all campus buildings. Specifically, all parties should abide by the following:
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Do not come to campus if:
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You are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms
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You are caring for someone with COVID-19 or possible COVID-19 infection
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You are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test because you had symptoms or were exposed
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You are sick in any way, even with mild illness
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Wear a Face Covering: Wear a face covering at all times indoors and outdoors when in the presence of others. Face coverings should completely cover the nose and mouth.
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Practice Physical Distancing: When possible, stay at least 6 feet apart from others.
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Practice Good Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
