COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND WELLNESS
Vaccinations
All eligible students, faculty, and staff must be vaccinated against COVID. Exemptions to the vaccination requirement are for religious or medical reasons only. Boosters are strongly encouraged.
Mental Healthcare Resources
UMCES employees can securely seek help for personal or work‐related problems through our Employee Assistance Program, GuidanceResources. Services are available to ALL UMCES students, faculty and staff and their immediate family/household members. To access EAP services online, use the following link: www.guidanceresources.com or access the App searching for GuidanceNow. The web ID is USMEAP.
The UMCES’ Mental Health Committee has assembled Mental Healthcare Resources and Contacts with information about national, Maryland, and local resources available in each campus’ neighborhood.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS
How does coronavirus spread? COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small particles that contain the virus. These droplets and particles can be breathed in by other people or land on their eyes, noses, or mouth. In some circumstances, they may contaminate surfaces they touch.
COVID-19 is spread in three main ways:
- Breathing in air when close to an infected person who is exhaling small droplets and particles that contain the virus.
- Having these small droplets and particles that contain virus land on the eyes, nose, or mouth, especially through splashes and sprays like a cough or sneeze.
- Touching eyes, nose, or mouth with hands that have the virus on them.
Source: CDC
What are the symptoms? People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. Consult the CDC website for updates.
How can you protect yourself? You can reduce your risk of contracting respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, by taking the following precautions:
- GET VACCINATED. Authorized COVID-19 vaccines can help protect you from COVID-19.
- WASH YOUR HANDS often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- AVOID CLOSE CONTACT with people who are sick. Inside your home, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members. Outside your home, 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
- WEAR A MASK. If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask in indoor public places. In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings. If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
- AVOID CROWDS AND POORLY VENTILATED PLACES. Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters puts you at higher risk for COVID-19.
- WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- COVER COUGHS AND SNEEZES. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- CLEAN AND DISINFECT high-touch surfaces.
- MONITOR YOUR HEALTH DAILY. Be alert for symptoms, and take your temperature if symptoms devleop. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.