North Baltimore Journal

Towson University issued the following announcement on Dec. 22

As we prepare to enter winter break in advance of the New Year, we continue to monitor the increase in COVID-19 cases around Maryland. We continue to consult both our colleagues across the University System of Maryland, as well as our TU medical advisory committee.

 

In response to an increase in positive cases around the region and state, TU is taking the following steps:

• The university will open Monday, Jan. 3 following the holiday break. Telework is strongly encouraged for those who are able to do so from Monday, Jan. 3 through Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. Please speak with your supervisor to confirm your status. This includes student staff. The university will be open during this time.
• A negative test result will be required for those coming to campus starting Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. Additional information regarding the return testing process will be shared in the first week of January.
• We will distribute at-home COVID-19 rapid tests to essential employees required to work over break to confirm a negative result.
• We continue to strongly advise boosters for all students, faculty and staff—and encourage anyone who hasn’t gotten one yet to do so before January. While TU has not announced plans to require boosters for those coming to campus, it is possible that they will be required prior to spring semester for those eligible.

TU announced last week that all TU-hosted large events of over 750 attendees would be limited to 50 percent capacity, and all non-academic and non-essential TU-hosted indoor events through the end of December that involve food and drink are canceled. Masks, covering the nose and mouth completely, are required when indoors in any buildings on TU’s campus. These common-sense measures are being taken to allow us to continue planning for an in-person spring term including a full offering of campus life starting on Jan. 31, 2022.

 

TU plans to hold its minimester as scheduled starting Jan. 3. The vast majority of classes are already scheduled to be administered online. Those in-person classes may be shifted to larger classrooms to allow for more physical distancing.

 

Residential student move-in prior to spring term is set for the weekend before the spring term begins on Jan. 31.

 

We want to remind everyone to pay attention to TU email and the university’s website and social media channels for key information during the winter break. We will continue to provide updated information to protect the health and safety of our entire TU community.

Original source can be found here.