Today: Mar 29, 2024

COVID-19 cases rising

Donovan WilsonReporter

COVID-19 cases are beginning to rise in Connecticut, with positivity rates above two percent. Last week, the university reported a .52 percent positivity rate.

In recent weeks, Connecticut has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases. This has also been an ongoing phenomenon around the country, with numbers as high as they were in March. This has also spiked a scare of a potential second nationwide lockdown.

“There has been a rise around campus but nothing too significant as we have the ability to respond quickly and keep numbers low,” said lead contact tracer Emily Rosenthal.

Naturally, with a rise around the state and country in general, the campus has also seen a rise. According to Rosenthal, the rise among residents and commuters alike has been rather low.

Rosenthal is part of the campus COVID-19 team. She leads the contact tracer team that finds everyone who’s been in contact with someone who has had a positive case and makes sure they do not spread the virus. There are many sections of the COVID-19 team on campus led by Erin Duff, the COVID-19 Coordinator.

“I am quite comfortable with things. The school does a good job at keeping us distanced and masked so I’m not afraid. There is no need to panic,” said environmental studies major Steven Zoher, a senior.

The lack of a panic around campus can be attributed to the precautions the campus has already taken. Every on-campus class is required to have masks, social distancing and sometimes even plexiglass dividers to prevent virus spread. The school even produces its own hand sanitizer to assure it is always on-hand for students and faculty alike to use.

There is also an aspect of transparency that can help keep students at ease. The school offers a COVID-19 dashboard, a free service available to all students to watch the COVID-19 numbers on campus. This transparency can help keep students’ minds at ease and display how honest the campus is.

“I really don’t think it’s a major issue; like there’s no reason to freak out. If you’re not comfortable, then stay home, and if you are comfortable then just be safe and there are no issues. We should try to move forwards, not go straight to moving backwards,” said political science major Frank Musante, a senior.

Rosenthal said everything is assumed to run the same. Campus is run in a way where everything is kept under tight watch, so the odds of cases getting out of hand is relatively low.

“We are just taking it week by week as of right now,” said Rosenthal. “Things can change at a [moment’s] notice.”

Photo credit: Jessica Guerrucci

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