Since the first two weeks of the new semester are online, many students are concerned about the potential of school remaining virtual for the remainder of the school year. The last time I was told it would only be two weeks was in March of 2020 when the spring break of my senior year of high school was extended to two weeks to adapt to the coronavirus outbreak.
Spoiler alert, we never went back and like so many others, I watched my graduation ceremony from a computer screen while sitting on my couch.
After that, my first year of college was entirely online and I remained out of a classroom until August of 2021. When they announced our first two weeks of this semester would be online, I became worried that I would not be able to step foot on a college campus again this semester.
Despite this looming fear of 2022 being 2020 part 2, there are plenty of reasons to dismiss the concern of classes remaining online.
To begin, the omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is not as severe as variants like the delta variant even though it is more contagious. This means that while it may be likely that a person will contract and spread the virus, it is less likely that there will be severe symptoms.
In a recent January 18 interview with CNN, Dr. Anthony Fauci stated, “We were fortunate that omicron did not share some of the same characteristics as delta, but the sheer volume of people who are getting infected overrides that rather less level of pathogenicity.”
In comparison to COVID-19 outbreaks in early 2020, the outbreaks we face now are a bit different. Now we have vaccine options to try to combat the virus, as well as more knowledge on how it is spread. COVID-19 tests are being required more frequently, and many places of work are giving employees the choice to either get vaccinated or get tested for the COVID-19 virus weekly.
The main thing that has reassured me that classes will be able to go back in person, is how much more prepared and informed we are.
In an email sent by SJSU, they announced that on top of having the first two weeks of the semester online, SJSU is implementing new policies to help keep students and faculty safe. Students living on campus have to participate in weekly COVID-19 tests and answer daily health screening questions on the Sammy app.
SJSU is also adding the COVID-19 booster shot onto the list of vaccine requirements. These new policies are not set to continue the whole semester but will continue for the foreseeable future.
We learn new things about COVID-19 every day and continue to adapt and improve because of it. Hopefully, things will eventually return to normal, but until then, I’ll see you on Zoom.
How do you feel about classes going online for 2 weeks? Let us know by tagging us @HerCampusSJSU!