The following letter was sent to the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community on Sept. 27, 2023, by Marianne Cloeren, MD, MPH, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and UMB Public Health Officer:
COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise in Maryland. Vaccines and natural immunity have kept hospitalizations relatively low, but COVID-19 can still make you very sick. With the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) fall semester in full swing and falling temperatures bringing people indoors, it’s time to review resources, tips, and the University’s expectations for what to do if you have COVID-19 or a flu-like illness. These tips will help keep you — and the most vulnerable members of our community — healthy and safe.
COVID-19, Flu, and RSV Vaccines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 6 months and older get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness. Why get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- To protect yourself and your community against severe illness, hospitalization, and even death
- To reduce the chance of having Long COVID
- Because the updated vaccine provides better protection against variants that are making people sick
- Because COVID-19 vaccines have been safely administered to hundreds of millions of Americans during the pandemic (See the CDC website for more information.)
Flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases also typically increase in the fall. Vaccines are available for both diseases. Please talk to your health care provider about getting these vaccines.
Vaccine Resources
At UMB, the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) and the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Vaccination Clinic will host the Sixth Annual Vaccination Day at HSHSL on Oct. 17. Vaccines for the flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, RSV, shingles, and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) will be offered. Appointments are strongly encouraged.
Meanwhile, University of Maryland Campus Health has launched its annual flu vaccine campaign to provide students and employees on-campus opportunities to receive their flu vaccine. Click here to schedule your flu vaccine online.
University of Maryland Campus Health, which includes Student Health, is actively preparing to offer COVID-19 vaccines and will announce when theirs are available in The Elm and Campus Life Weekly email newsletters. Once the vaccines are available, students and employees can schedule their COVID-19 shot using the vaccine scheduling portal or by contacting Campus Health or the Student Health Center directly at 667-214-2233.
COVID-19 and flu vaccines also are readily available from other health care providers across the United States. To find a provider in your area, please go to one of the following government vaccine locator websites:
Free COVID-19 Test Kits
As of Sept. 25, every household in the United States can order four free COVID-19 rapid tests to be delivered to the residence. Click here to order your free test kits. And before you throw out “expired” tests, check to see if your COVID-19 tests’ expiration dates have been extended.
What to Do If You Have COVID-19 or a Flu-Like Illness
If you are sick, please stay home. If you have symptoms compatible with COVID-19 or a flu-like illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other respiratory viruses), stay home to prevent the spread of illness and contact your health care provider. If you have COVID-19 or are caring for someone with the virus, review this CDC guidance.
Clinical Site Guidance on Return to Work or Educational Activities
Guidance from the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) on returning to work or educational activities at clinical sites differs from the CDC’s public guidance.
Students, faculty, and staff working or participating in educational activities at UMMS locations, including the University of Maryland Medical Center, must follow the guidance found in the UMMS Guidelines for Management of COVID-19 Employee Exposure.
Students, faculty, and staff engaged in activities at other clinical sites must follow the return to work or educational activities guidance of the clinical site. Students with questions about when they can return to in-person educational activities can contact the Student Health Center at 667-214-2233.
Masks
UMB no longer has a mask mandate, but people are welcome to wear a mask if they choose to do so. If you opt to use a mask, UMB recommends wearing a high-quality one such as an N95 or KN95. In addition, people must follow the CDC’s or their clinic site’s mask guidance when ending isolation if they have had COVID-19.
At UMB, our most important asset is our people. You can help keep our community healthy by staying current with your vaccinations and staying home if you feel sick. You can find UMB’s current COVID-19 policies and guidance here.
Stay healthy!