COVID-19 Information for UMD

• COVID-19 vaccinations (including the first booster, depending on the vaccine received) are required for all on-campus students, faculty and staff.
• Individuals over 50 are strongly encouraged to receive a second booster per CDC guidance.
• For anyone who is immunocompromised, we strongly recommend consulting with your personal physician and following CDC guidance for immunocompromised individuals on receiving all booster doses when eligible.
• The university will recognize a prior COVID-19 infection as being up-to-date for 3 months from the date of the infection. You can attest to a prior COVID-19 infection at return.umd.edu.
• Faculty, staff and students who are not up-to-date with their vaccine, including those with an approved medical or religious exemption, will be required to sign a risk memorandum until they become up-to-date.
• Information for Campus Affiliates 
• Information for International Students 
   

Upload Vaccine and Booster Information Here

UMD will comply with all federal and state laws in granting appropriate exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Request A Vaccine Exemption

• The University Health Center (UHC): Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling the UHC at (301) 314-8184
• Prince George’s County Residents and UMD Employees: Options for getting vaccinated are available on princegeorgescountymd.gov
• State of Maryland: Find a vaccine clinic near you on maryland.gov
• Out of Maryland: Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccine clinic
• CDC en Español: Encuentre vacunas contra el COVID-19 cerca de usted

• Release Time or Administrative Leave is available for UMD employees to get COVID-19 vaccines, additional doses and boosters.
• Regardless of where you receive your vaccine:
  • You should return to work once you have received the vaccine dose, unless your work shift is over or you are on approved leave following your appointment.
  • If you have an adverse reaction following vaccination, advise your supervisor and use accrued sick leave in accordance with established policies.
     
• On-campus Vaccines: Release Time
  • Exempt regular and Contingent II staff and faculty may record up to a total of two hours of Release Time for on-campus appointments to get COVID-19 vaccines.
  • To ensure minimal disruption to work, provide your supervisor with as much advance notice as possible of your appointment date and time.
  • Release Time may be taken on two separate days.
  • For non-exempt staff, Contingent 1 staff, and hourly faculty, the time in and out should be recorded, and you should indicate the reason for the Release Time in the Notes section on the timesheet.
  • This Release Time is available for use effective immediately. Previous time records will not be adjusted.
     
• Off-campus Vaccines: Administrative Leave
  • Regular and Contingent II staff and faculty may record up to a total of two hours of Administrative Leave (Admin Lv - COVID VAX) for appointments to get the COVID-19 vaccine at an off-campus location.
  • Administrative Leave may be used on two separate days.
  • Record no more than two hours of Administrative Leave on the timesheet as “Admin Lv-COVID VAX.”
  • To ensure minimal disruption to work, provide your supervisor with as much advance notice as possible of your appointment date and time.

On-Campus Testing With or Without Symptoms

• Free self-test kits are available at the University Health Center (UHC) while supplies last. Come to the front entrance of the UHC and show your University ID card. No appointment needed.
• PCR testing may be done at the UHC for individuals who have a scheduled appointment with a provider, or who are traveling outside of the US and need a PCR test to enter their international destination.
• Rapid antigen testing is also available at the UHC for individuals with symptoms who have an appointment with a provider.
   

Off-Campus Testing

• Local testing sites can be found using the Prince George’s County testing site locator. Additional information and other testing locations can be found at coronavirus.maryland.gov or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

If you have been notified that you are a close contact and do not have symptoms, you should get tested 5-7 days after exposure. You may also need to quarantine, if you are not up to date on your vaccines.

• You must report your results at return.umd.edu
• Review the isolation instructions and FAQs for people who test positive
• The Prince George’s Health Department may follow up with formal contact tracing of positive individuals.
• Students will need to make arrangements with their instructors regarding class attendance and assignments for the duration of their quarantine or isolation period.

Faculty, staff, students and visitors on campus are not required to wear a mask indoors, with a few notable exceptions. Wearing a KN95 mask indoors in all situations is strongly encouraged. 

• KN95 masks are required in all classroom settings, including shared laboratories and other instructional spaces. 
• Anyone who is positive or has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone with the virus is required to wear a mask and follow all other campus isolation and quarantine requirements. 
• Masks continue to be required on all public transportation, including Shuttle-UM buses.
• Masks continue to be required in all patient care areas, including, but not limited to, the University Health Center and all COVID-19 testing locations.

KN95 masks are still available free of charge to all members of our campus community.

• The Stamp Student Union Information Desk has masks available to all students, faculty and staff.
• Staff and faculty can also work directly with their supervisor.
• Departments can order KN95 face masks for employees from Procurement. 

• Please heed all CDC COVID-19 guidance regarding domestic and international travel. 
• If you have a medical condition or are taking medication that weakens your immune system, please talk to your healthcare provider before traveling. You might NOT be fully protected even if you are up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions. 
• When traveling internationally, you must also abide by any protocols established by the host country. 
• If you have been granted a medical or religious exemption and are not fully vaccinated (including a booster when eligible) and must travel, please talk to your healthcare provider about your health risk before traveling and follow all applicable CDC and other guidance as outlined above.

We are in an ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic. The CDC recommends making sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel and avoiding travel to certain high risk destinations.
 
If you are unvaccinated and travel, your risk of contracting and getting seriously sick from the virus is higher compared to individuals who are up-to-date with their vaccine, and it is critically important to assess your health risk with your healthcare provider and to follow CDC recommendations prior to and during travel.
 
Some people should not travel. Do NOT travel if you were exposed to COVID-19, you are sick, you test positive for COVID-19, you are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test or had close contact with a person with COVID-19 and are recommended to quarantine. Don’t travel with someone who is sick. If you are immunocompromised, do NOT travel without first seeking advice from your personal physician.
 
Make sure to plan ahead. When traveling in the US, check the current COVID-19 Community Level at your destination. If traveling to an area with high or medium COVID-19 Community Levels, and you are, live with, or are visiting someone with a weakened immune system or at increased risk for severe disease, plan to take steps to prevent getting sick.
 
When traveling internationally, check the COVID-19 Travel Recommendations by Destination and follow these recommendations to protect yourself and others while traveling.
 
If, at any time while you travel, you develop symptoms of COVID-19 or begin to feel unwell, please stay away from others and get tested as soon as possible. If you test positive, report your results at return.umd.edu. You are also advised to seek medical attention immediately, especially if you have a chronic health condition or are immunocompromised.
 
If you travel, please heed all CDC, federal, State and local guidance regarding travel. CDC guidance is updated regularly. CDC guidance can be found at the following links:

• Travel
• Domestic travel during COVID-19
• International Travel

• We strongly recommend consulting with your personal physician and following CDC guidance for immunocompromised individuals on receiving all booster doses when eligible.
• Wear a mask at all times when in public spaces, both indoors and outdoors.
• Maintain 6 feet of physical distancing at all times.
• Contact your healthcare provider for recommendations regarding specific precautions that may apply in your situation. UMD may offer appropriate adjustments and/or accommodations based on a letter from your healthcare provider. 
• Contact your healthcare provider immediately for advice and further treatment should you begin to feel unwell. 
• In addition to the above precautions, you are strongly advised against returning to campus until your vaccines are up-to-date and/or you have a statement from your physician listing the accommodations and adjustments required in your situation.