All University of Maryland undergraduate classes will be delivered online starting Monday, Nov. 16, according to an “urgent” campuswide email Friday.
The announcement comes as the state reported a record-high 1,869 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, according to the state’s coronavirus dashboard. The state positivity rate is currently 5.87 percent, according to the dashboard.
About 15 percent of classes are currently being held at least partially in-person. Graduate classes and approved research activities will not change operations.
[Tightened COVID-19 restrictions in Prince George’s County go into effect Nov. 15]
“These measures are being taken in the best interest of the health and well-being of our campus community,” university President Darryll Pines and interim Health Center Director Sacared Bodison wrote in the email.
The email encourages all students who can to make plans to return home for the remainder of the semester. The email also strongly advised students to undergo COVID-19 testing and get flu shots before leaving the campus.
“If your plans are to be at home after Thanksgiving, we want you to stay safe for yourself and your loved ones,” the email read.
On Nov. 12, Prince George’s County announced increased restrictions, limiting gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Restaurants are limited to 25 percent capacity indoors. Grocery stores and other essential businesses are limited to a maximum of 50 percent capacity.
The United States also reached record-high levels on Thursday, with over 153,000 new cases of COVID-19 across the nation.
This story has been updated.
CORRECTION: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story said about 15 percent of classes are currently held online. About 15 percent of classes are currently being held at least partially in-person. This story has been updated.
