The following reflects updated guidance the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on March 1, 2024, on preventing the spread of respiratory illness in non-healthcare settings. Students, faculty, and staff working or participating in educational activities in healthcare facilities must continue to follow that organization’s COVID isolation requirements and any other related guidance.

For non-healthcare settings, CDC’s guidance on Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick is no longer specific to COVID. Instead, CDC’s guidance is for all respiratory illnesses. These include but are not limited to COVID, Influenza (Flu), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and the common cold.

According to the CDC, respiratory illness symptoms “include but are not limited to chest discomfort, chills, cough, decrease in appetite, diarrhea, fatigue (tiredness), fever or feeling feverish, headache, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, vomiting, weakness, wheezing”.

CDC’s new guidance acknowledges that individuals recovering from a respiratory illness, and those who test positive for a respiratory illness but have no symptoms, are typically less contagious but can still transmit disease. Hence the need to follow the precautions listed below.

Respiratory illness symptom(s) and a fever:

• CDC’s new guidance recommends that you stay home and away from others while you have symptoms of a respiratory illness.
• You may resume activities once symptoms improve AND you are fever-free for 24 hours without medication if you wear a mask and physically distance for the next 5 days when around individuals indoors.
• If you have symptoms that do not improve after your fever ends or your fever starts after your symptoms end, please see CDC’s Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick for further guidance on when you can resume activities and precautions to follow.

Tested positive for a respiratory illness but have no symptoms:

• If you test positive for a respiratory virus but do not have symptoms, the CDC’s new guidance recommends you wear a mask and physically distance for the next 5 days when around individuals indoors.

UMB’s guidance

Students, faculty, and staff working or participating in educational activities in healthcare facilities must continue to follow that organization’s COVID isolation requirements and any other related guidance.

At UMB, individuals with active respiratory illness symptoms should follow CDC guidance on Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick and not report to campus or in-person activities. Students should contact their Student Affairs Dean and employees their supervisor regarding any School or department policies regarding absences and whether alternative options exist for engaging in work or educational activities.  

Individuals whose symptoms are improving and are fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the aid of medication) or who have tested positive for a respiratory illness but do not have symptoms have the following options:

• If you are an employee, telework if possible. If you are a student, coordinate with your professors or student affairs team about how to make up work.
• If telework is not an option, you may use your accrued leave, including sick leave, if applicable, during this period.
• If you must be on campus, wear a mask and practice physical distancing for the next 5 days.

Please continue to practice good hygiene by covering your coughs and sneezes and periodically wash or sanitize your hands. Although UMB encourages the use of at-home test kits for COVID, the CDC’s new guidance is for all respiratory illnesses, so you should still follow the masking and physical distancing practices outlined above even if you test negative for COVID.

Students who are sick or test positive for a respiratory illness can contact their health care provider or Campus Health at 667-214-2233 for further guidance.

Employees who are sick or who test positive for a respiratory illness should contact their healthcare provider for further guidance.

If you have non-urgent medical questions, please send them to umbpoh@umaryland.edu.

Clinical Site Guidance on Return to Work or Educational Activities  

Guidance on return to work or educational activities at clinical sites differs from guidance the CDC provides the public. Therefore, it is critical that UMB students, faculty, and staff follow the guidance of the clinical site.

Students, faculty, and staff working or participating in educational activities at University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) locations, to include the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), must follow the guidance found in the UMMS Guidelines for Management of COVID-19 Employee Exposure Policy.  

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 on when they can return to in-person educational activities can contact Student Health at 667.214.2233.

Medical Care for COVID-19

Information on accessing medical care is provided below. The cost for medical care is the responsibility of the student or employee. This includes costs not covered by a student or employee’s health insurance plan.

According to the CDC, a person should seek Emergency Medical Attention if they have any of the following emergency warning signs for COVID 19:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

If someone is showing any of these signs, CDC recommends calling 911 or calling ahead to your local emergency facility. Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

Non-Emergency Medical Care

Students can contact UMB Student Health for non-emergency medical care for COVID-19.

Employees should speak to their healthcare provider for non-emergency medical care for COVID-19. Employees that do not have a healthcare provider, can consider using Campus Health, located on the UMB campus at 408 W. Lombard Street.

Students whose educational requirements involve participating in activities at clinical or field sites are required to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine requirements of those specific sites. Students who do not meet the COVID-19 vaccine requirements of the clinical or field site may be denied participation in activities by the site.

Students participating in activities at clinical or field sites that require the COVID-19 vaccine must submit proof of vaccination and exemption requests to the COVID-19 Management Portal.

In line with the updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) UMB “strongly recommends” students (and faculty and staff) stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine.

Employees whose job duties require them to work at clinical or field sites are required to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine requirements of those specific sites. Schools are responsible for communicating and enforcing COVID-19 vaccine requirements that relate to a UMB employee’s specific job duties. This includes a notice to job applicants as to whether the position is subject to a COVID-19 vaccine requirement. 

In line with the updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UMB “strongly recommends” faculty and staff (and students) stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccine.

When applicable, proof of vaccination and requests for accommodations for employees will continue to be administered through the COVID-19 Management Portal.

1. UMB students, faculty, and staff traveling on UMB business (as defined under UMB’s Policy on Business Travel for UMB Employees and Nonemployees) shall adhere to UMB and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 travel guidance.
   
   
2. UMB students, faculty, and staff traveling outside the United States on UMB-related travel must also follow UMB’s travel procedures, including prior authorization and use of a UMB-approved travel agency to procure tickets and accommodations. The team at the Global Hubcan help!
   
   
3. The full CDC guidance can be found here.
   
   
4. UMB students, faculty, or staff traveling outside the United States who test positive for COVID-19, develop COVID-19 symptoms, or had a close contact with a person with COVID-19 must contact International SOS for country-specific isolation or quarantine requirements. Travelers should follow the isolation or quarantine requirements of the country they are in. International SOS can be contacted through International SOS’s Assistance App or by calling one of their 24-hour Assistance Centers listed on the back of your membership card.
   
   
5. Travelers should take at least five (5) N95, KN95, or equivalent masks and at least four (4) at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 diagnostic test kits with them when they travel.
   
   
6. Before commencing travel, travelers should ensure they have the means to pay the upfront costs associated with not being able to travel on their scheduled return date. Travelers who do not have the financial means to cover expenses related to travel delays should talk to their respective School or business unit about alternative means to cover these expenses.
   
   
7. Travelers should plan for the potential that their scheduled return date could be delayed by COVID-19 infection or exposure, in accordance with the CDC guidance.
   
   
8. Travelers should keep receipts for all costs associated with delays to their scheduled return date, costs for any COVID-19 testing, etc.

School, Business Unit and/or Department Responsibilities

1. Ensure that its travelers are informed of the above travel expectations.
   
   
2. Plan to cover the costs associated with travelers who may be delayed from returning on their scheduled return date. Plan to cover the responsibilities of travelers whose return may be delayed.
   
   
3. Plan and develop methods to provide financial support to travelers who cannot afford the upfront costs associated with delays in their return.
   
   
4. If applicable, submit proper documentation for reimbursement to the insurance carrier for covered costs associated with travel delays due to COVID-19.
   
   
5. Consider imposing appropriate disciplinary action for individuals or students, faculty, and staff who do not follow CDC and/or UMB travel guidance.