With a new wave of COVID-19 attributed to the Omicron variant, many students are left with questions regarding the spring semester. The COVID Response team provided some answers regarding class formats, the booster shot and future plans.
During the week of Jan. 16, 2022, 63 students and eight employees tested positive for COVID-19. As of Jan. 24, 28 individuals were in isolation, five were in quarantine and 38 were under heightened precautions.
According to a poll run by the Chimes, 50% voted that they found these numbers concerning, and 50% voted that they did not.
Isolation is a complete separation from others and is meant for individuals who test positive for COVID-19. Quarantine involves separation from others to reduce transmission and is for unvaccinated individuals exposed to someone with COVID-19. Heightened precautions involve additional health precautions, but allow for the continuation of most activities. This is also for vaccinated individuals exposed to someone with COVID-19.
At the beginning of the spring semester, Ohio was experiencing high levels of COVID-19 cases, due to the Omicron variant.
According to Tonya Poteet, Capital’s COVID Response Team lead, the University’s high rates of vaccination supported the decision to return in-person.
As of Feb. 1, 94% of full-time employees and 91% of students are vaccinated.
By comparison, 71.46% of adults state-wide are vaccinated.
In addition to our university’s high vaccination rate, Poteet stated Capital’s ability to test all residential students and any other students who wished to be tested before the start of the semester also supported the decision to return in-person.
“Our return to campus testing had a positivity rate of 7% which is high for the University, but significantly lower than the 28% positivity rate in Franklin County at the beginning of January,” Poteet said.
According to Poteet, there was a decrease in cases after the first week, from 129 cases to 78 cases in week two, then 71 in week three, and then a large decrease to only 21 new cases in week four.
There are a variety of factors the COVID Response Team keeps an eye out for when recommending changes in protocol, such as the format in which classes are delivered: online or in-person.
“Key factors are whether COVID is being transmitted internally and whether remote delivery would decrease the likelihood of spread,” Poteet said. “Flexibility of classes, technology, and the changes in CDC guidelines for length of isolation, help make in-person classes more feasible, even while having an increase in COVID cases.”
The COVID Response team is hopeful that we have seen the peak of Omicron cases and encourages everyone to continue taking safety precautions to protect themselves.
With the Omicron variant being highly transmissible, preventing the spread is difficult.
The best thing one can do is wear a KN95 or N95 mask around others and practice social distancing, when possible.
Additionally, the COVID Response Team recommends getting your booster shot when you are eligible (five months after the first two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine).
“During the Omicron wave of COVID, having the booster dose was found to be very effective in reducing the severity of illness and likelihood of hospitalization from COVID,” Poteet said. “Also, under CDC guidelines, whether or not you need to quarantine when exposed to COVID depends on whether you are up to date with both vaccination and booster.”
Poteet stated that, although the University strongly recommends getting the booster shot, there are no current plans to require it.
For more COVID-19 University updates, students can click here.
