Free Rapid Antigen Tests Available on Campus

Vice President for Student Affairs Patty Perillo and Dr. Spyridon Marinopoulos, University Health Center director, sent the following email to the campus community this evening:

As you know from recent campus messages, a rapid antigen or a PCR test is required for all faculty, staff and students before they return to campus for the spring semester. Having everyone take a test immediately before our collective return is essential in mitigating community spread.

Where to get a rapid antigen test
We recognize that tests have recently been hard to find and hope you have been able to find a test to take prior to your return. If you have been unable to secure a test elsewhere and are in the area, we have purchased a limited supply of tests for our campus community. Tests will be available for pickup in the old Adele’s Restaurant (Stamp Student Union, Room 1240, 3972 Campus Drive) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20 and Friday, Jan. 21. Please bring your university ID. You will only be able to pick up one test per person. These tests are only intended for current staff, faculty and students who have not been offered tests elsewhere on campus or are unable to find tests in the local area. Individual tests will be available first come, first served as long as supplies last.

In addition, the federal government announced that individuals will be able to order at-home rapid antigen tests (four tests per household) at COVIDTests.gov. Tests will typically ship within seven to 12 days of ordering. The USPS system does not allow delivery of these tests to residence halls, so we encourage on-campus residents to use their permanent addresses.

Testing and results
You must be tested (PCR or rapid antigen) no more than 48 hours before coming to campus on Jan. 24 regardless of whether you have been on campus recently. We recommend using a rapid antigen test the evening before or the morning before you will be coming to campus.

For this test, you are not required to upload your test results. This testing protocol is part of our collective responsibility to help minimize infection within our community.

If you test positive, you must postpone travel to campus and follow all applicable CDC, state, county and campus guidance for isolation and testing, which includes isolating for a minimum of five full days. A negative rapid antigen test—taken at home—at the beginning of day 6 is required prior to ending isolation and returning to campus.

Community members on or near campus must report positive test results to the HEAL Line at 301.405.HEAL. Additionally, everyone residing in the state of Maryland must report a positive self-test to the state.

Additional spring semester requirements
Please remember that vaccine boosters are required for all faculty, staff and students. You must upload your booster information at www.myuhc.umd.edu by clicking on "Enter My COVID-19 Vaccination Information."

Masks are required indoors at all times, regardless of vaccination status. KN95 masks are required in all classroom settings and recommended everywhere. 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. N95 masks will meet the university’s classroom mask requirements. KN95 masks remain available to our campus community at the Stamp Student Union.

Lastly, all faculty, staff and students must electronically sign a new Spring 2022 pledge by Jan. 24 to abide by all health protocols.

Be well and stay healthy,