Photos and story by Emily R. Condon
Even as COVID cases decrease, many students still may not know what to expect after testing positive. Isolation housing rooms filled up last week as 153 new COVID-19 cases were reported by students from according to the University of Maryland COVID-19 Dashboard.
Students who live in an on-campus residence, including South Campus Commons, Courtyards, or university owned fraternity or sorority houses, are not permitted to isolate in their normal residence. They are told to return to their permanent home to isolate themselves.
For students who would require a plane flight to return home, the university also offers on campus isolation housing. Students within driving distance may apply for special permission to be allowed in isolation housing under some circumstances.
“If you live off campus, you may stay in your residence as long as you can separate yourself from others at all times,” said Suzanne Mintz, RN, from the UMD Health Center in an email on Wednesday Feb. 16. “On-campus isolation housing is not available for individuals who live off campus.”
On-campus isolation is offered in either Leonardtown Community (located behind Fraternity Row) or in the vacant Beta Theta Pi house at Fraternity Row #6.
Arrival
Students can either apply for a parking pass near their isolation location or request transportation through the university. Upon arrival, students go to the back door of the Leonardtown Community Center (shown in below) and call the Leonardtown desk for access to the separate isolation room.
After entering the separate isolation room, the desk worker instructs the student which numbered envelope to take with their room key.
The room also has information packets for students to take along with other necessities, such as toiletries, water bottles or snacks. During their stay, if students need any supplies, they are instructed to return to this space.
Food
Everyday, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., food is delivered to the isolation housing.
“I have a kitchen staff that make the meals daily and we produce based on how many students are in quarantine plus extra that we estimate based on how many may be added in any given day,” said Jason Gurganus, catering director of Good Tidings Catering, which is a branch of UMD Dining Services. “We also produce special meals for students with dietary restrictions.”
On their first day in isolation housing, Gurganus texts students to find out if they have dietary restrictions. Students are able to reach out to him throughout their stay in isolation.
He explained that once meals are done, they are packaged and delivered. His staff stays until 6 p.m. in case students have other requests.
“We also drop off a set or two of meals to the Leonardtown lobby in case a student is missed or needs extra food late at night,” Gurganus said.
Good Tidings Caterings has an assortment of options that they rotate through when preparing meals.
Danielle London, a freshman public health major, residing in Fraternity Row #6 weighed in on the food.
“I like the sandwiches they provide. The turkey sandwiches were good. It was nice when we got cookies from the dining hall. The butter chicken the first night was questionable. But the chicken fajitas were good,” London said.
Sarah Cohen, a freshman psychology major, also staying in Fraternity Row #6 opted for DoorDash food everyday.
“The dinners weren’t looked at twice but DoorDash was. I ordered from Chipotle, Panda Express, Wasabi Bistro, Starbucks, and Pizza Kingdom,” Cohen shared.
Facilities
In the Beta Theta Pi isolation house, students were each given their own room. A communal bathroom on each floor had showers, sinks, and toilets.
Savanna Sikorski, a freshman undecided major brought her own blankets and pillows for her room. Rooms have a bed, closet space and desk for isolated students to use.
The kitchen area on the first floor of the fraternity house has a table with chairs, two microwaves, a Keurig machine and a refrigerator. On the other wall, a whiteboard is filled with notes from current and past isolated residents.
Other services
In addition to food and facilities, the isolation housing also offers additional services. Clean white linens, towels and a pillow are included in each residential room. Bathrooms are also cleaned daily by a worker for the university.
Leisure
Many of the residents spent time outside on the porch to safely congregate throughout their stay at the fraternity house. Michelle Sobambo completed her school work outside the house on Sunday, Feb. 20.
“It was getting gloomy in my room,” said Sobambo. “I needed some Vitamin D and fresh air. It’s a change of scenery, and it was warmer out anyways.”
Rapid Test
On their sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth day in the house, residents could submit a negative rapid test to be cleared from isolation testing. They also must not have shown a fever or symptoms in the prior 24 hours to the test.
The university provides two rapid antigen tests to isolated residents that is delivered with their first day of meals.
“On their first day they are given a ‘goodie bag’ which has popcorn, ramen, easy mac, granola bars, oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly packets with seperate bread and an assortment of candy as well as a test kit,” Gurganus said.
