Health and Safety Measures at Allegany College of Maryland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kristin Kehrwald 301-784-5152

 

UV sanitation cart

ACM's use of an ultraviolet (UV) sanitation cart in high touch areas including its dental clinic as shown here is one of the many tools the college is using in its fight against an outbreak of COVID-19 on campus. When used for the recommended 20-25 minute exposure time for viruses, the UV light can disinfect over 99% of bacteria, viruses, mold, and spores.

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES AT ALLEGANY COLLEGE OF MARYLAND 

CUMBERLAND, Md. (July 30,  2020) – Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) Custodial Supervisor Paul Blank has a new “coworker” that stands 68 inches tall and glows in the dark: an ultraviolet (UV) sanitation cart. For high touch areas like the college’s many computer labs as well as dental and health clinics, this 65-pound “colleague” is the college’s newest cleaning tool in its fight against an outbreak of COVID-19 on campus.

Equipped with four, 48" UVC fluorescent lamps, the sanitation cart offers 57.2 watts of total UV output, within the 200nm to 280nm UV-C range (254 nm peak). Its lights emit a flood beam pattern able to clean up to 1,750 square feet of space with full, 360 degrees of coverage. When used for the recommended 20-25 minute exposure time for viruses, the UV light can disinfect over 99% of bacteria, viruses, mold, and spores.  

The UV sanitation cart, which is used by goggled, trained custodians like Blank to clean multiple areas each night on campus, is one of the many health and safety measures that Allegany College of Maryland is using in hopes of preventing an outbreak on campus.  

Spending upwards of $60,000 on cleaning equipment, medical grade cleaning supplies and PPE, ACM is practicing both science-based and common sense measures, and relying heavily on guidance recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Allegany County Health Department.  

In compliance with a [Maryland] statewide order, all students, campus visitors and employees must wear face masks or face coverings inside ACM buildings as well as outdoors when physical distancing is not possible. In addition to providing students and employees with reusable cloth facemasks, the college is promoting the proper hand hygiene and social distancing measures. Visitors, students and employees are required to sign in when visiting an office or department, and attending class or a lab.  

Campus visitors, students and employees are asked to self-monitor for coronavirus/COVID-19 disease symptoms. Individuals with symptoms are encouraged to contact their health care provider and refrain from coming to campus.  

Hand sanitizer is available in all buildings. While ACM campuses and education sites undergo intensive cleaning and sanitation daily, disinfectant wipes are also provided to individual students as they enter their classroom so that they may wipe down their desk or table surfaces between cleanings.  

Fall semester full-term courses begin on Monday, August 24, and delayed start courses begin on Tuesday, September 12. There are no plans at this time to shorten the semester.  

ACM is reducing classroom density, and offering several options for taking fall credit courses, including face-to-face instruction, face-to-face alternating schedule, online courses, blended or hybrid courses, flex courses, and distance learning. Students are encouraged to order their fall books and supplies online, and select home delivery or in-person pickup using the Campus Store’s new pickup window. More information is available at allegany.edu/bookstore or by contacting Campus Store staff or calling 301-784-5348.    

Individuals interested in the college’s noncredit classes and lifelong learning programs are encouraged to request a Fall Continuing Education catalog online or by email. Course catalogs will be available mid-September.   

The college is continuing to offer optional phone and virtual appointments with students. Applications for the fall semester are still being accepted with course registration continuing through the start of the semester.  

Individuals with general questions about the college or its safety measures and accommodations are encouraged to call 301-784-5005 or email for assistance.  

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