BALTIMORE – A U. S. House committee is investigating a case of COVID-19 at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Starting in September, if a student tests positive, they will have to quarantine off-campus. For students who live on campus, this means having to return to their relatives’ home or book off-campus accommodation, such as a hotel.
It depends entirely on the student’s shoulders.
Although it has been a little more than a month since its implementation, some UMD academics are still unaware of this policy.
WJZ explained the policy to several academics on campus on Monday, and each and every one we spoke to expressed fear about the cost.
“I feel like it doesn’t take into account the amount of money it would take to isolate yourself in a position that’s not here,” junior Christian Waidner said.
Some are also concerned about the possibility of the virus as a component of this policy.
“I sense that COVID is still dangerous, that it’s still a problem. But [the policy] also doesn’t take into account the fact that some other people have immunocompromised family members at home,” said young Sofia Correa.
Fear of this policy is now receding from campus. The U. S. House of Representatives’ Special Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is investigating this policy.
In a letter sent Friday to UMD President Darryll Pines, the committee questions how UMD’s $115 million in CARES Act investment was spent. The committee also questioned how the students’ quarantine was handled.
Jonathan Young, a freshman at UMD, believes college assistance covers the costs.
“Maybe have one or two hotel rooms reserved for [quarantined students], or at least have a place they can go,” he said.
In a message to WJZ, a UMD spokesperson showed that they had won the letter. He also said in part, “During the public fitness emergency and today, we remain focused on fitness and protecting our community.
The letter was signed by all Republican members of the committee. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, who is also a member of the committee, warned his colleagues who oppose potential overreach.
“We are not attempting to micromanage a situation at a school over which Congress has no oversight authority,” Mfume said in a statement.
The letter is just the beginning of the committee’s investigation. The next step would be a data collection between the university and the committee, but it’s not yet clear when that will be scheduled.