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Updated COVID-19 Isolation Protocols

October 31, 2023

Dear Residence Hall students,

We are writing with updates to the University's COVID-19 isolation protocols. Please review the information below carefully. These protocols will go into effect tomorrow, Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

REPORTING

Students who test positive for COVID-19 must report their positive test result at return.umd.edu.

STUDENTS WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS

Please consult with your primary medical provider AND the University Health Center's HEAL Line 301.405.4325 (HEAL) for additional guidance if either you or your roommate(s) test positive for COVID-19.

ISOLATION REQUIREMENTS

Those who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate for at least five full days from the date of their positive test. Please refer to the CDC's Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19 for specific instructions about what to do and not do when you are in isolation, how long to isolate, and when you can discontinue isolation. We continue to encourage you to develop your plans now in the event you test positive and need to isolate.

ISOLATION LOCATION OPTIONS

If you test positive, we recommend you isolate off-campus at your home or the home of a loved one where you may be most comfortable. The University does not provide designated isolation housing. For residence hall students who test positive and cannot isolate at an off-campus location, you may isolate in place in your residence hall room. To isolate in place in your room, you must do all of the following:

  • Notify the University Health Center's HEAL line at 301.405.4325 (HEAL) that you will be isolating in your room.
  • Notify your roommate. Roommates should follow CDC guidelines for those who have been exposed. The University Health Center's HEAL Line and the Dean of Students Office are available to answer any questions or concerns.
  • Stay in your room except to use the bathroom, collect your meals, and visit a pharmacy or doctor's office (activities essential for daily living).
  • Do not go to class or participate in any campus activities during the isolation period.
  • Wear an N95 or KN95 mask at all times when around others, and do not go anywhere if you are unable to wear a mask.
  • For students who have a Dining Plan, use the Department of Dining Services' "sick meals" request and pick up program. Wear your N95 or KN95 mask while collecting your meals.
  • Clean and disinfect shared surfaces frequently.
  • Notify your instructors and/or your on-campus supervisor.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF WHEN YOU HAVE COVID-19

We know you may not feel well and that you might need guidance for managing your symptoms. Feel free to call the University Health Center's (UHC) HEAL line at 301.405.4325 (HEAL) and/or visit the CDC website for self-care guidelines and treatment information.

If you feel your symptoms need to be evaluated by a medical provider, call your personal medical provider or schedule an appointment at the UHC by calling 301.314.8184. If you experience any worsening or severe symptoms, including any trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Your compliance with reporting positive test results and isolating per campus and CDC guidelines is essential to the health and safety of our campus community. Remember to visit the University Health Center's COVID-19 website and umd.edu/4Maryland for additional information.

If you have questions regarding any of this information, please contact the University Health Center HEAL Line at 301.405.4325 (HEAL). Thank you for doing your part to keep our Maryland community healthy.

Sincerely,

Dennis Passarella-George
Director, Department of Residence Life
Division of Student Affairs
He/Him/His

Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.P.
Director, University Health Center
Chief Medical Officer, University of Maryland
He/Him/His

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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