PATCH: Students who live on campus at the University of Maryland must isolate at their permanent homes or perhaps at an area hotel for five days if they test positive for COVID-19, the university recently said, noting a surge in COVID cases nationwide.
“Students living in residence halls or university owned fraternity and sorority houses will need to isolate at their permanent home or another off-campus location if they test positive,” UMD officials said in updated COVID guidance posted online. “The university does not provide designated isolation housing on campus.”
The guidelines say the isolation period will begin from the date the positive test was conducted.
The state of Maryland no longer posts COVID case numbers, but nationally there has been a 29 percent increase in hospitalizations, the New York Times tracker said. On average, 3,954 COVID patients were hospitalized daily as of Aug. 26, up nearly 30 percent in 14 days.
In Maryland, the state has seen an average of 79 hospital admissions daily, 1.3 cases per 100,000 residents, and a 42 percent increase in the last 14 days.
Isolation For People Who Test Positive
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 you will need to isolate for a minimum of 5 full days from the date your positive test was conducted. Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home. Students living in residence halls or university owned fraternity and sorority houses will need to isolate at their permanent home or another off-campus location if they test positive.
The university does not provide designated isolation housing on campus. There are a number of hotels in the College Park area where you may choose to isolate. You can view local accommodations and make reservations by clicking here.
For more resources for individuals who need to isolate off campus, click here.
Students living off-campus should isolate at their permanent home or may isolate in their off-campus residence, preferably if they have their own bedroom and bathroom.
You may end isolation on day 6, if you meet ALL of the following conditions:
- You have been fever free without fever-reducing medication (like Tylenol or Advil) for 24 hours AND
- Your symptoms have resolved or are steadily improving AND
- You test negative with a rapid antigen test on day 6 of isolation.
If you are able to meet all of the above conditions, you may return to campus. However, you must continue to do the following for an additional 5 full days (for a total of 10 days since the date of the positive test):
- Wear a well-fitted mask for any time you are around others inside your home or in public.
- Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a mask.
- Avoid travel, and avoid being around others who are high risk.
- You should not eat in restaurants or dine with others.
- Students with a resident dining plan can request a Sick Meal to eat in their room.
If you do not meet all of the above conditions to end isolation on day 6, then you must continue to isolate for an additional 5 full days (for a total of 10 days of isolation) or until you receive a negative test (whichever occurs first). You also must be fever free for 24 hours and have improvement of symptoms in order to leave isolation.
If you have a negative test between day 6 and day 10, you may end isolation on the day of the negative test, but you must continue to wear a well-fitting mask while around others through day 10.
