How will students decide what to do?
With more people getting vaccinated, how are students getting ready for in-person classes in the fall with the coronavirus still happening? Students are having a bit of a challenge deciding how they will be doing things with the coronavirus still being around. Some universities have an idea of how they will hold the fall semester however, have yet to finalize the plan. Universities are doing everything they can for students with what they are being told from the governor of their state. According to ABC News, health experts warn with states like Texas and Mississippi reopening now and lifting mask mandates, there could be one last heartbreaking rise in new cases –- followed weeks later by hospitalizations and deaths -– just as the nation is on the cusp of mass vaccinations. Health experts are giving advice that most states are listening to. Health experts are seeing how the coronavirus is affecting the country daily if not hourly.
Some universities are requiring their students to get vaccinated for the fall semester. According to NPR, Duke University in North Carolina has announced that it will require students to have a COVID-19 vaccine when they return this fall. And the list of campuses with such policies is growing. When asked about how would you feel if the University of Nevada, Reno requires all students to get vaccinated? Alyssa Underhill responded by saying “I think it’s important to be vaccinated. It’s clear that it is helping. I know some people don’t want to get vaccinated but I think it needs to happen.” While it is known that you might have some side effects from the vaccination, it is only for a couple of days. Some people who don’t want to deal with the side effects are deciding to get vaccinated because they know it’s going to help protect them from the virus.
Universities are starting to return back to in-person events with limited attendance. According to the CDC, spectators at sporting events should consider the number of COVID-19 cases both where they live and where the sporting event is taking place before deciding to attend. The higher the transmission of COVID-19 in the community, the higher the risk of transmission of COVID-19 at sporting events. When asked if the University of Nevada, Reno opens back up will you plan on attending any events? Lindsey Haley responded with “I’m not sure if I’m going to attend any events straight away. I also don’t know what events the University will be holding.” All three of the students that I talked to said they were going to wait since they don’t want to risk anything for them. According to the CDC, when choosing safer activities, consider how COVID-19 is spreading in your community, the number of people participating in the activity, and the location of the activity. It’s better to take precautions than risk getting sick.
Some cities are allowing businesses to open back up but at a limited capacity. With limited capacity, some businesses are struggling. Before the pandemic, some businesses were already struggling. According to the CDC, as communities and businesses are opening, you may be looking for ways to resume some daily activities as safely as possible. While there is no way to ensure zero risk of infection, it is important to understand potential risks and how to adopt different types of prevention measures to protect yourself and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. If Reno opens back up more, will you go out right away? Wes Russom said “… I’m going to wait a little bit. If I absolutely have to go out, I’m going to take precautions in what I do and if I go with anyone. Since I won’t know if they have the virus or not or if they are vaccinated.” The more precautions people and communities are willing to take safer people will be. Some cities don’t have any precautions put in place anymore.
How will the rest of the year look? Nobody really knows the answer to this question. The coronavirus is constantly changing with variants so nobody knows what could happen in the future. The more people willing to get vaccinated, the faster the country might be able to return to “normal.” There are still some people who will to not get vaccinated and continue to go out in public without taking any precautions. Universities are doing everything they can for their students but some are unwilling to listen. The more students and the general public listen to what is being said, the faster things can return to “normal.” We know nothing will be back to how we were before this pandemic started but we can get close to how we were.
