UM College Park lifts ‘sequester-in-place’ order
Seniors have a unique opportunity (during the next 72 hours) to find out if Medicare approved treatment can end your knee arthritis pain and help re-capture your youth
One week after instituting a “sequester-in-place” mandate for student housing, the University of Maryland College Park has lifted the order, citing promising COVID-19 metrics in the aftermath of outbreaks on campus.
In addition, the university will resume in-person instruction Monday after suspending live classes for a week, according to an email to the university community from University President Darryll J. Pines and Dr. Spyridon Marinopoulos, the chief medical officer for the university’s health center.
Their announcement said the number of positive cases had slowed on campus and highlighted a low testing positivity rate, about 1.7%, according to the university’s coronavirus dashboard. The university officials credited the campus community’s vigilance for curbing the spread.
“We recognize that these measures created challenges for many of our students — both physically and mentally — and we want to express our sincere gratitude for your compliance and ongoing commitment to stop the spread of COVID-19,” the statement said. Officials will monitor the metrics and “intervene appropriately as needed, including requiring additional testing in areas” of increased virus transmission.
The university’s coronavirus data shows that quarantine and isolation housing for students who contracted the virus or who come into close contact with those who did is 82% full, though officials said they had ample space. And, while the positivity rate, which tracks the tests administered by the university, is low, the number of new cases reported daily to the school remains elevated compared with the beginning of February.
As of Friday, there was an average of about 37 new cases per day over the past week associated with the university. That’s up from 28 the same day a week earlier, and more than triple the average figure from two weeks ago.
The university officials’ announcement also eased restrictions on gatherings and opened up some campus recreation activities on a reservation-only basis. Indoor gatherings are to be limited to 10 people, while outdoor gatherings may include up to 25 people, provided there is mask wearing and social distancing.
Gatherings regardless of venue, indoor or out, had been capped as of Feb. 18 at no more than five people.
Small gatherings were the driving force behind the surge of infections over the last two weeks, the university’s vice president for student affairs, Patricia Perillo, told The Baltimore Sun.
“The positive cases are by and large mostly coming from groups who are spending time in their pods with six or seven of their friends, feeling pretty comfortable, feeling like they know where everybody’s been,” Perillo said in an interview Friday. “They might have a meal together, distanced, but take their masks off. And that’s why we’re seeing the spread.”
Students and campus workers have expressed concerns about their safety on campus, and this announcement has done little to allay the fears of the union representing about 3,300 university employees, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
“We remain concerned about the health and safety of our members, students and the greater community,” said Stuart Katzenberg, a spokesman for AFSCME Council 3, on Saturday. “Just yesterday union members working in dorms requested N95 and KN95 masks but they were denied. How many infected students and staff is enough?”
University spokesperson Katie Lawson said in an emailed statement that any employee who is denied a mask should report it anonymously.
“Under no circumstances would we advise or permit denial of masks to any of our employees in a pandemic,” Lawson said.
After students raised concerns about whether the university was enforcing the restrictions effectively, university officials emphasized potential disciplinary actions in their latest statement against those who flout the university’s public health restrictions and guidelines, including proper mask wearing, distancing, hand washing and regular testing. For people who violate these protocols, the reprimands can include suspension and, in the case of repeated violations, expulsion.
“While we are now able to lift the sequester-inplace restrictions, our fight against this pandemic is not over. COVID remains present within our community,” Pines’ statement said. “We do not take this issue lightly, and we have and will continue to impose significant consequences for community members who fail to abide by the” protocols.
The university’s Office of Student Conduct had received 600 referrals about potential COVID-19 violations, leading to students losing housing privileges and more than 30 suspensions. Nobody has been expelled.
Meanwhile, the City of College Park has stepped up compliance enforcement, resulting in more than 250 warnings and municipal infractions for issues like noise and gathering limit violations, and the assessment of more than $35,000 in fines, the university said.
Baltimore, MD - If you suffer with painful knee arthritis, the next 72 hours may be extremely important to you.
Here is why: If you are like most seniors...you worked hard your whole life. You sacrificed. You did without. You paid your dues. You may have even fought for your country.
Now it’s time to focus on getting a little back. It’s time for YOU.
It’s time to take a step back and enjoy the life you’ve worked so hard to build and get back to doing all the things you deserve.
But retirement came with one BIG PROBLEM you may have not anticipated. For many, the pain and agony of knee arthritis has destroyed their so-called “golden years”. Let me tell you two things that are abundantly clear...
It’s Not Fair And It’s Not Your Fault
And I know it’s not the way you imagined life would be. Well thank goodness...
Due to advances in medical technology and treatments, seniors right here in Baltimore are now reducing pain, returning to the activities they love ...and getting to live the REAL retirement dream.
For many, knee arthritis pain has already become a thing of the past!
One such medical advancement for chronic knee pain is called viscosupplementation. This exciting new option has already helped thousands in Baltimore for three very important reasons:
Reason #1: It Works
Viscosupplementation is an advanced medical treatment where a highly skilled doctor puts a special FDA-approved lubricating medicine directly into the knee joint.
These lubricating and cushioning
substances are naturally occurring, but cleared by the FDA to make sure you get the highest quality treatment.
Recent research shows that viscosupplementation can also assist in helping the cartilage in your knees regenerate and repair!
This is NOT an over the counter vitamin or supplement, but an advanced medical procedure.
It is not uncommon to relieve pain and stiffness in the knees in just a few weeks, and the results often last for 6-12 months, or even longer. One study found that 2 years after having these injections 82%of patients were able to avoid total knee replacement surgery!
Reason #2 Pinpoint Accuracy of the Injections
Ethos Health Group now has locations in Columbia, Owings Mill, White Marsh, and Glen Burnie with experienced medical teams ready to help. In addition to helping hundreds of patients find relief from chronic knee pain, they have also
perfected a method that allows them to target injections with precision accuracy to insure optimal results.
Our providers combine the lubricating viscosupplementation injections with advanced diagnostic imaging called a digital motion x ray that allows them to watch your joints move in real time, helping pinpoint your problem. When it comes time to perform the injection, this technology allows them to see inside the arthritic knee joint and deliver the cushioning gel medicine EXACTLY where it needs to be. The added benefit is that this also allows the procedure to be virtually painless.
Research has shown that if injections are performed into the knee joint without this type of image guidance that the injection might miss the right location up to 25% of the time. With the technology used at the Ethos Health Group, no expense has been spared to avoid total knee replacement surgery!
Reason #3 Viscosupplementation Treatment is Covered by Medicare and Many Other Insurances
Medical care can be expensive, and sadly that cost often keeps seniors on a fixed income from getting the treatment they desperately need.
The good news is that the viscosupplementation treatments offered at the Ethos Health Group are covered by Medicare and many other insurance companies.
This has allowed countless patients with knee pain right here in Baltimore the opportunity to get the best state of the art care without draining their life’s savings they’ve worked so hard for.
That’s why the providers at the Ethos Health Group are offering a special knee pain consultation that is open to anyone in the Baltimore area with knee pain who would like to see if the advanced medical procedures discussed here can help you.
This complimentary consultation is no obligation and allows our medical team to determine if you are a candidate for this treatment...or if things are too far advanced and a knee replacement surgery is your only option.
This consultation is one on one with our providers, and the worst thing that can happen is you find out this treatment is not for you. On the other hand ... you might find the answer to your pain that allows you to recapture your youth.
Ethos Health Group has staff standing by 24 hours a day to take your phone calls. The number is 410-696-7388, and due to the high demand for these services, space has been set aside for the next 20 people who call to reserve their free knee pain consultation. The number again is 410-696-7388.
Ethos Health Group has four convenient locations in and
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