Updated COVID-19 Safety Measures at UMBC

Key Points

• UMBC and area positivity rates have allowed us to revisit our current health and safety measures. 

• Effective Friday, March 4, masking is no longer required for much of the campus. 

• Masking remains required in classes, instructional labs, performance spaces, designated masking areas, healthcare settings, on UMBC Transit, and in other limited areas.

• We ask that all in our community Keep Masks in Mind by carrying a mask with them and respecting one another. 

Dear UMBC Community,

We are pleased to share that our on-campus testing positivity rate and COVID-19 rates in  surrounding counties continue to remain low. We have also carefully reviewed recent guidance from the CDC and its determination that Baltimore County is an area with a low COVID-19 Community Level and improving health metrics.

As a result of these positive indicators, UMBC will adjust the campus masking policy effective Friday, March 4, 2022. In general, masking is no longer required except in classes, instructional labs, performance spaces, designated masking areas, healthcare settings, and on UMBC Transit. We are prepared to update these protocols should the local and/or campus public health situation worsen.

We want to emphasize that many in our community may need or choose to continue to wear a mask in areas where they are no longer required. We need to continue to support each other. Individuals who have recently been exposed to or recovered from COVID-19 should continue to mask for at least 10 days.

We ask that all in our community respect individual decisions to wear masks and carry a mask with them. Please continue to check in with colleagues and friends about whether they would feel more comfortable if gatherings and meetings were masked. Taking care of one another and respecting each other is an important part of our community values. In that tradition, we ask that you continue to Keep Masks in Mind. 

When you need to mask, we continue to encourage you to select a high-quality mask. Free KN95 masks are available on campus. 

We appreciate your patience while the COVID-19 Planning and Coordinating Committee assessed current public health conditions on and off campus and your continued commitment  to keeping our community healthy. If you have questions about these changes, you may contact us at covid19@umbc.edu.

Provost Philip Rous

Vice President of Information Technology and CIO Jack Suess

COVID-19 Planning Coordinating Committee Co-Chairs