New COVID protocols impact student body
Vaccinations and testing were available upon students' return to campus.
COVID continues to spike on and off campus after students returned from winter break. Last semester a total of 57 students at CSB/SJU tested positive for COVID. In the past two weeks, 181 students have tested positive, according to the CSB/SJU COVID dashboard.
CSB/SJU started out the Fall 2021 semester with a mask mandate in place which required masks to be worn in every area on campus besides students’ personal rooms and outdoors. In late October this mandate was lifted and it was only required to wear masks on the busses. With the new semester starting, the mask mandate is back in place.
“Our pandemic planning committee closely monitors our campus positivity rate,” said Casey Gordon, the chair of the Pandemic Planning Committee, via email. “We try to adjust our conditions to give us the best chance at reducing the spread of COVID-19 on the campuses, protecting the campus communities, and enabling us to have an in-person learning experience for students.”
The Pandemic Planning Committee sent out an update in early January reminding students of vaccination, masking and testing requirements.
In an effort to mitigate both COVID and other seasonal illnesses, masking requirements were extended into the spring semester.
Masks are to be worn in all indoor spaces and the Link except when inside residence halls rooms or eating.
“We have a COVID team that meets on a regular basis and we are monitoring the situation and making decisions accordingly,” Dean of Students Mary Geller, said “We are cautiously optimistic as of right now.”
Despite higher-than-normal positive case rates, 90% of CSB SJU students are vaccinated. A booster incentive program was introduced to reward those who received their booster shot.
Prizes included $1,000 credit to tuition and bookstore gift cards. COVID vaccine booster shots will be required for all students and staff as of March 1.
“Right now, one of the ways we have seen to decrease spread of COVID-19 is by maintaining a high vaccination rate,” said Gordon. “Many other schools have higher rates of positive cases than we do. We strongly encourage individuals to get booster shots if they are eligible.”
CSB/SJU is not the only schools facing an increase in positive cases of COVID.
One in four students at the University of Minnesota have tested positive, according to the UMN COVID dashboard.
Student groups and organizations have been asked to limit in-person events and meetings for the first two weeks of the spring semester.
Classes continue to remain in-person but may take on a hybrid approach depending on student needs.
Students who are isolating have had a Zoom option for classes.
“Our goal is to do as much as possible as soon as possible,” Geller said. “We’ve heard from students loud and clear that they’d much rather be on campus and have the in-person experience.”
Dining and bussing changes have also accompanied the extension of mitigation strategies.
Hours of service have been limited due to staffing shortages.
“I hope for once and for all we can just be done with it. I want to stop being restricted from normal things like hanging out past 10 p.m. or eating dinner late,” CSB sophomore Liz Hamak said. “But I’d rather go to an event and wear a mask than not go to an event at all.”