{"id":2067306,"date":"2023-10-14T12:02:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T16:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-investigate-reemerging-covid-isolation-policies-at-university-of-maryland\/"},"modified":"2023-10-14T12:08:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T16:08:08","slug":"house-republicans-investigate-reemerging-covid-isolation-policies-at-university-of-maryland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-investigate-reemerging-covid-isolation-policies-at-university-of-maryland\/","title":{"rendered":"House Republicans probe COVID isolation policies at University of Maryland."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-republicans-investigate-reemerging-covid-isolation-policies-at-university-of-maryland%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2067306&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Republicans Launch Investigation into University of Maryland&#8217;s COVID-19 Policies<\/h2>\n<p>Republican\u2064 members on the\u200d House Select Subcommittee on the \u2062Coronavirus Pandemic \u200care \u200claunching a new investigation \u200dinto the University of Maryland over an\u200b apparent\u2063 effort to reprise its\u2063 pandemic-era isolation policies.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;[The University of Maryland] seems to be reinstituting the same negative policies \u2062it implemented during\u2062 the \u200dbeginning \u2062of the pandemic at\u200d the expense\u200b of its students,&#8221; Subcommittee \u2063Chairman \u2063Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023.10.13-SSCP-Letter-to-University-of-Maryland-Re.-COVID-19-Policies.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> to university president Darryll\u200d J.\u2063 Pines on Friday.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Mr.\u2063 Wenstrup raised allegations that the university has\u2062 begun \u200cremoving students who test positive for\u200d COVID-19 from their dorms &#8220;without providing temporary housing\u2064 accommodations.&#8221; \u2064He said the university now\u200c requires those \u200dwho test positive to \u2062either isolate \u2063at a nearby hotel or \u2062return home.<\/p>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/new-zealand-prime-minister-remains-in-covid-19-isolation-after-testing-positive-5502858?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>New Zealand Prime Minister Remains in \u2064COVID-19 Isolation After Testing Positive<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n    <br \/>\n    <span class=\"text-comp-caption\">10\/3\/2023<\/span>\n  <\/li>\n<li>\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/new-zealand-extends-mandatory-covid-19-isolation-as-rest-of-the-world-moves-on-5188765?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>New Zealand \u200bExtends Mandatory COVID-19 Isolation as Rest \u2063of the World Moves \u200cOn<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n    <br \/>\n    <span class=\"text-comp-caption\">4\/12\/2023<\/span>\n  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Republican \u200clawmaker faulted to school for reverting to these &#8220;coercive and \u200bpotentially harmful COVID-19 policies&#8221; after having requested and \u2064received $115\u200c million in pandemic-era relief \u2063funds from the federal government under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, \u2063the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, and the American \u200cRescue Plan.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The University\u2062 of Maryland updated its COVID-19 health\u200b policy <a href=\"https:\/\/health.umd.edu\/HEAL\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">page<\/a> in September. The page states students\u200b who test positive for COVID-19\u2063 must leave any\u2062 university-owned housing and isolate for a minimum of five full\u200c days. These students may end their isolation on the sixth \u2064day \u2062if they test negative with a COVID-19 rapid\u2063 antigen test, and \u2062have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use \u2064of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-than-65k-los-angeles-students-and-staff-test-positive-for-covid-19-as-in-person-classes-prepare-to-resume\/\" title=\"More Than 65K Los Angeles Students And Staff Test Positive For COVID-19 As In-Person Classes Prepare To Resume\">fever-reducing medication<\/a>\u200b like Tylenol or Advil,\u2064 and have seen their other symptoms \u2062resolve or steadily improve.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>While students who tested\u200d positive\u2064 for \u200dCOVID-19 may\u200c return to campus after the sixth day, they will have to continue\u2062 to take\u2062 precautions wearing a mask, avoiding\u200b areas where they can&#8217;t wear a mask, and avoiding eating at restaurants \u2064with others. Students with \u2062a dining\u2063 plan are advised that \u200cthey may request a sick meal to eat \u2064in their \u200crooms.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The university&#8217;s COVID-19 health policy page provides an additional <a href=\"https:\/\/health.umd.edu\/COVID-19-isolation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">link<\/a> for students going into \u200boff-campus\u2063 isolation. That link does not specify \u2063how, or even if, students can be reimbursed \u2062for their isolation-related expenses, but does say students \u2064may be\u2064 able \u2063to\u200c get a \u200cdiscounted rate \u200cfor their hotel room if they book \u2063directly through the \u200buniversity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Presumably, it\u2019s the students\u2019 parents\u2014not your \u2063university\u2014that are footing the bill,\u200c which begs \u200dthe question of how Maryland spent\u2062 the federal Coronavirus dollars it received,&#8221; Mr.\u200c Wenstrup wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Wenstrup called on the University of \u2064Maryland to provide details about its alleged isolation policies, including\u2063 what impact the policies may have on student academic performance and what measures the university will take \u200dto assist students with their studies and mental health while in isolation. Mr. Wenstrup also asked how the university spent the $115 million in\u2062 pandemic-era federal funds and \u200dwhether it \u2064will financially \u2062assist \u200bany students displaced by \u2062this COVID-19 isolation policy.<\/p>\n<p>Other members on the subcommittee&#8217;s majority signed onto the letter, including Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), John \u2062Joyce\u200d (R-Pa.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Michael Cloud (R-Texas), Debbie \u200dLesko (R-Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2063 (R-Ga.), and Rich \u2062McCormick (R-Ga.). \u2064The subcommittee is organized under the House Oversight and \u2062Accountability \u2064Committee.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are\u200c in receipt of the letter sent by the\u200c Select \u200cSubcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic,&#8221; university spokesperson Katie Lawson told NTD News on\u200c Friday. &#8220;Throughout the \u2064pandemic, the University of Maryland has made decisions\u200c that\u2064 prioritize the safety of our \u200dcommunity and designed \u200dpolicies in full alignment with \u2062local \u200cand\u2064 national \u200bpublic health guidance. During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/martinez-we-have-2-4-hour-lines-due-to-new-mexico-lockdown\/\" title=\"Martinez: 'We Have 2-4 Hour Lines' Due to New Mexico Lockdown\">public health emergency<\/a> and today, we\u200c stay focused on \u200dthe health and safety of our community.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Lawson did not provide responses to \u2063additional\u2064 questions about \u2064the university&#8217;s \u2062isolation\u2062 reimbursement policies, \u2062or how it has used its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-investigate-reemerging-covid-isolation-policies-at-university-of-maryland\/\" title=\"House Republicans probe COVID isolation policies at University of Maryland.\">pandemic-era <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/morning-wire-afghanistan-collapses-dc-wades-into-state-mask-battles-how-new-census-data-could-impact-elections\/\" title=\"Morning Wire: Afghanistan Collapses, DC Wades Into State Mask Battles, How New Census Data Could Impact Elections\">federal relief funds<\/a><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>NTD News also reached out to\u200d the subcommittee&#8217;s ranking\u2063 member, Rep. Raul Ruiz\u2064 (D-Calif.), for comment on the subcommittee majority&#8217;s \u2062latest \u200binvestigative efforts. Mr. Ruiz&#8217;s office did not respond by the \u200btime\u200b this article was\u200c published.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\"><em>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ntd.com\/house-republicans-investigate-covid-isolation-policies-reemerging-at-university-of-maryland_947743.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NTD \u2063News<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How has the University of Maryland allocated and used the federal relief funds \u2062provided to them during the pandemic?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200cTailed information regarding \u200dthe allocation and use of \u2064the federal\u2064 relief funds, as \u200bwell as a justification for the implementation\u2063 of \u2064these policies. He also requested\u2064 clarification on the university&#8217;s plans for reimbursing students for their isolation-related expenses. The\u200c Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic has requested a response from the university by October 27, 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 University \u2064of Maryland updated its COVID-19 health policy page in September to outline the requirements for students who test positive for COVID-19. These students\u2064 are required to\u200d leave university-owned housing and isolate for a minimum \u2063of five\u200d days. They may end their isolation on the sixth day if\u200c they test\u200b negative and are free of fever and \u2064other symptoms. However, they must continue to take precautions such as wearing masks and avoiding \u200chigh-risk\u200b areas.<\/p>\n<p>The university&#8217;s health \u200bpolicy page also provides a link for students going into off-campus isolation, but it does not specify if or how students can be reimbursed for their expenses. Mr. Wenstrup raised concerns that it may be the students&#8217; parents who\u2064 are bearing the financial burden of these isolation policies.<\/p>\n<p>The Republican\u200b investigation into the University of\u200c Maryland \u200dstems\u2063 from\u2062 allegations that the \u2063university is unfairly \u2064burdening \u2063its students with the costs and hardships of these isolation policies. It questions how the\u2063 university has used the \u2063federal relief funds provided to them.<\/p>\n<p>It is \u2062essential for the University of Maryland to address these concerns and provide \u2063transparency\u2063 regarding their COVID-19 policies and\u2062 the use \u2064of\u2063 federal\u200c relief funds. The investigation launched by the Republicans aims to ensure that universities\u2064 are acting\u2062 in the best\u2062 interest of their students and responsibly using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-seek-to-cut-woke-programs-out-of-pentagons-proposed-budget\/\" title=\"GOP Aims to Eliminate 'Woke' Programs from Pentagon Budget\">financial resources allocated<\/a> to them during this ongoing pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>As the investigation \u200ccontinues, it is crucial for \u2063the \u2064University of Maryland to cooperate fully and provide all requested\u2063 information \u2063and justifications. This will help determine whether the\u2063 university&#8217;s actions \u2062align with\u2064 the best interests of its students and the responsible use of federal relief funds.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the launch \u200dof the investigation into the University of Maryland&#8217;s COVID-19 policies\u2062 by Republican \u200dmembers of the House Select \u2062Subcommittee on the Coronavirus \u2064Pandemic highlights concerns regarding the university&#8217;s implementation of isolation policies and the allocation of federal relief\u200c funds. It is important for the university to address these concerns and provide transparent information to ensure that student welfare and\u200d responsible use of funds are prioritized.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republican members of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic are initiating an inquiry into the University of Maryland. They are concerned about the university&#8217;s apparent intention to reintroduce pandemic-era isolation measures, which they believe will come at a significant cost.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1759,"featured_media":2067307,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2067306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1759"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2067306"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2067306\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2067307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2067306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2067306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2067306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}