Terps Coming to Campus for Spring Must Get COVID Tests Every Two Weeks

The Spring 2021 semester, which kicks off with move-in this week, will bring ramped-up COVID-19 testing requirements to keep students, faculty and staff safe as university, local and state officials work out the details of an on-campus vaccination program.

Other enhanced measures include mandatory face coverings at all times in all public spaces indoors and out, and 10-day quarantine and isolation periods for students whether they show coronavirus symptoms, had a positive test or were exposed to a close contact with the illness.

As with the Fall 2020 semester, the first two weeks of Spring classes, starting Jan. 25, will be held online, and all Terps returning to campus must complete daily symptom monitoring. 

University Health Center Director Spyridon Marinopoulos, M.D., and Vice President for Student Affairs Patty Perillo shared the following guidance to the campus community via emails on Friday afternoon:

COVID-19 testing requirements
Testing remains a critical component of COVID-19 mitigation. Students and employees must submit confirmation of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus; for students, the test must be administered within 10 days of arrival on campus. They can’t participate in residence hall check-in until that requirement is met, and they will be asked to sequester for the first two weeks of the semester.

Students should be retested upon arrival to campus, and students and employees must be retested at least every two weeks during the semester. 

The University Health Center will conduct large-scale, campus-wide testing events at the Stamp Student Union through the semester. Visit return.umd.edu to view available testing dates and times, schedule an on-campus COVID-19 testing appointment, and attest your results.

Face Coverings
As of Jan. 16, Prince George's County requires face coverings to be worn in all public places, outdoors or indoors, even where wearers are able to maintain 6 feet of distance from others. Face coverings are not required during vigorous exercise outdoors.

Symptom Monitoring
Any faculty, staff and students physically coming to campus or living close to campus is required to complete daily symptom monitoring on the UMD app or return.umd.edu. 

Quarantine and Isolation Housing
Consistent with last semester, residential students who test positive, or have been exposed to a close contact who has tested positive, will move to quarantine and isolation housing in Leonardtown or on Fraternity Row. Based on new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, students in quarantine or isolation will now be required to stay 10 days whether they are being quarantined for possible exposure, or isolated with symptoms or a positive test result.

Vaccine Dissemination
As the state of Maryland releases more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, UMD officials have promised an equitable vaccine distribution process to students, faculty and staff that follows state and county guidelines. While there is currently no vaccine on campus, they said, a vaccination schedule will be released once delivery of supplies from the state is scheduled.

“The health and safety of our community is our fundamental priority,” said Marinopoulos. “We are committed to ongoing work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We are in this together and we will work together 4 Maryland to continue to keep each other and our campus community safe and well.”

Students or employees with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact healthconcerns@umd.edu.