NEWS -
CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTY THE PAST AND PRESENT OF THE PANDEMIC ON CAMPUS By Layla Kennington and Elizabeth Zacks
A
s of Feb. 4, 2022, there have been an estimated 76 million COVID-19 cases in the United States alone. Omicron, the newest COVID-19 variant first discovered last year, has contributed substantially to this staggering number. Due to its high transmissibility, the variant has played a large part in heightening widespread sentiments of uncertainty regarding life during a pandemic. Despite the surge in new cases, a significant number of individuals returned to work and school. Omicron’s existence, paired with this pursuit of normalcy, has resulted in everchanging protocols at Tufts and other universities. Since the pandemic started, COVID-19 related policies have been in flux. Governments and institutions have implemented an array of evolving mask mandates, vaccine requirements, and isolation and quarantine proce- dures. In particular, universities have grappled with the
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question of how to ensure public safety while meeting students’ academic and social needs. Like other universities across the country, Tufts has responded with varying answers to this question. In March 2020, Tufts reacted by immediately closing campus and holding classes virtually, a decision in line with actions taken by other universities. However, since Fall 2020, students have been back on campus under regulations such as routine testing, mask mandates, and vaccination requirements. Dr. Michael Jordan, the University’s Infection Control Health Director, explained that Tufts’ COVID policies have been characterized by their adaptability and focus on community health. In an email to the Tufts Observer, Jordan wrote, “Throughout the pandemic, we have taken a data-driven approach to our decision making and have focused on flexibly adjusting our policies accordingly, with our top priority being the health and safety of our university community and our neighbors.” W h e n c a m p u s opened in the Fall of 2020, students were met with policies
that limited in-person contact and severely regulated social gatherings. Junior Abby Donaghue said, “I know a lot of students really suffered socially last year because the policies were really damaging to a lot of people’s social development.” In August 2021, Tufts fully opened its campuses, allowing students and faculty to enjoy both in-person and virtual classes, as well as amenities like its gyms, libraries, and common spaces. This reopening came with a set of safety requirements, including vaccination and mask mandates. If students tested positive, they were made to isolate in on-campus modular residential units (MODs) for isolation and health monitoring. With Omicron, these protocols have evolved once more. On Dec. 16, 2021, just days before the end of the semester, Student Life announced over email that all finals were to be moved online and that students should immediately leave campus. In Spring 2022, Tufts introduced more stringent COVID-19 policies, including a virtual first week of classes, a vaccine booster requirement, the banning of cloth face coverings in favor of 3-ply medical and KN95 masks, and an increased testing schedule of three times a week. Despite these heavier restrictions, the number of days that COVID-positive students had to isolate was reduced from ten to five days, due to direct advice from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
