Dear Colleagues:

This week, the Maryland Secretary of Health issued guidance stating that those who travel outside Maryland should be tested for COVID-19 upon their return. As we enjoy the holiday weekend, members of our University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community – particularly those who have job duties requiring them to be on campus or in close contact with others – who choose to travel out-of-state should be tested 5-7 days after returning to Maryland. Call UMB’s COVID-19 Hotline at 800-701-9863 to schedule a COVID-19 test.

UMB and UMMS travel guidance follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations by encouraging employees and students to engage in essential travel only, including travel to and from work for our essential on-campus employees who live outside Maryland. If you do choose to travel this weekend or in the coming weeks, do not return to work/campus if you experience COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. If you have no symptoms and have not been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, you should plan to work as usual while awaiting your COVID-19 test and its results.

As we gather with family and friends this Fourth of July weekend, please consider your own health as well as that of your colleagues, and our entire UMB community. I urge you to remain vigilant by washing your hands frequently and/or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer, maintaining six feet of physical distancing from others, and wearing a mask when you are indoors or unable to maintain proper physical distancing.

I wish you and your families a safe, healthy, and happy Independence Day.

Sincerely,

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS

Interim President