College VS Covid
It has been almost a year since we first heard about the deadly virus known as Covid-19. Even after all this time cases are still on the rise. One of the biggest sources of the surge in cases is due to the rise in cases on college campuses all across the country.
Thousands of new coronavirus cases continue to emerge on college campuses. More than 50 colleges have reported at least 1,000 cases over the course of the pandemic, and more than 375 colleges have reported at least 100 cases.
A survey was conducted by the New York Times to try to track the number of cases on college campuses. The survey included every four-year institution and private school that competes in the national collegiate athletic association. The survey has revealed that since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been more than 214,000 cases and at least 75 deaths.
How to stay safe around campus
Being smart and safe is hard for college students because they already feel like their college experiences are being ruined. But the bigger goal for most of us is to not get infected and spread COVID-19. So, students really need to think about where they’ll be going and what they’ll be doing. And contrary to what they believe, social distancing, masking, washing hands are still very important.
- Wear a face mask when you go in public, especially during situations where you cannot maintain social distancing.
- Practice social distancing. Stay six feet away from others at all times. If you can, you should take remote classes to prevent exposure. Also, if you do not live on campus, you should try to avoid going on to campus if possible.
- Follow the social distancing guidelines for your school. Avoid big gatherings of people, busy places, and parties.
- Wash and sanitize your hands often. Try to wash your hands after every time you leave your house. Keep hand sanitizer readily accessible for easy use.
Avoid Parties
Going to parties is risky not only for yourself, but more importantly for those around you. Even though some college students might be less likely to experience the most severe consequences of the virus, the people around us might not be so lucky.
The CDC gathering guidelines stress the increased risk associated with gathering in areas where the level of community transmission is high. The safest parties to attend are ones in which you know and are already in contact with everyone who will be there. This is especially important should anyone test positive for COVID-19 afterward, as it’ll make it easier to notify and trace who may have been exposed.
Even with these precautions, you may be putting yourself into a dangerous situation. You do not know where everyone has been or who they have been around. Most professionals say you should not gather with people you do not live with. At universities this is not what students want to hear. However, if you choose to leave your house with random people, everyone in your household will be put at risk.
