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College Calendars in the Pandemic: No Fall Break and Home by Thanksgiving College Calendars in the Pandemic: No Fall Break and Home by Thanksgiving
(14 days later)
SACRAMENTO — As colleges make plans to bring students back to campus, alongside discussions of mask requirements and half-empty classrooms, one common strategy is emerging: Forgoing fall break and getting students home before Thanksgiving.SACRAMENTO — As colleges make plans to bring students back to campus, alongside discussions of mask requirements and half-empty classrooms, one common strategy is emerging: Forgoing fall break and getting students home before Thanksgiving.
The University of South Carolina, Notre Dame, Rice and Creighton are among the schools that have said they will find ways to shorten the fall semester, in an attempt to avoid a “second wave” of coronavirus infections expected to emerge in late fall.The University of South Carolina, Notre Dame, Rice and Creighton are among the schools that have said they will find ways to shorten the fall semester, in an attempt to avoid a “second wave” of coronavirus infections expected to emerge in late fall.
Built into their calculations, university officials say, are epidemiological assumptions that reducing travel will help students avoid contracting and spreading the virus, and that any easing of the pandemic this summer will end with the return of flu season.Built into their calculations, university officials say, are epidemiological assumptions that reducing travel will help students avoid contracting and spreading the virus, and that any easing of the pandemic this summer will end with the return of flu season.
“We don’t know if the second wave will be weaker or stronger, but there’s a significant risk that this will resurge in the winter,” said Rice University’s president, David W. Leebron.“We don’t know if the second wave will be weaker or stronger, but there’s a significant risk that this will resurge in the winter,” said Rice University’s president, David W. Leebron.
Rice, a private university in Houston, was among the first schools to adopt the strategy of a streamlined semester. It notified 7,000 students this month that the fall semester would not have the usual breaks, ending at Thanksgiving instead of around Christmas.Rice, a private university in Houston, was among the first schools to adopt the strategy of a streamlined semester. It notified 7,000 students this month that the fall semester would not have the usual breaks, ending at Thanksgiving instead of around Christmas.
In making that decision, Mr. Leebron said he drew on guidance issued by federal disease experts, pandemic modeling from other universities, Rice’s own infectious diseases faculty and the school’s “robust crisis management structure” — a result of too many Texas hurricane seasons.In making that decision, Mr. Leebron said he drew on guidance issued by federal disease experts, pandemic modeling from other universities, Rice’s own infectious diseases faculty and the school’s “robust crisis management structure” — a result of too many Texas hurricane seasons.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned almost from the outset of the pandemic that the United States can expect to be hit by multiple waves of infections until the development of a vaccine, a process that can take at least 18 to 24 months.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned almost from the outset of the pandemic that the United States can expect to be hit by multiple waves of infections until the development of a vaccine, a process that can take at least 18 to 24 months.
The likelihood of another wave of infections in the fall and winter prompted the nearly 500,000-student California State University system to announce last week that it would keep its 23 campuses mostly closed, holding classes primarily online during the fall semester.The likelihood of another wave of infections in the fall and winter prompted the nearly 500,000-student California State University system to announce last week that it would keep its 23 campuses mostly closed, holding classes primarily online during the fall semester.
California’s community colleges, which serve more than 2 million students and which are run by more than 70 governing bodies, were urged by that system’s chancellor on Monday to adopt a similar plan.California’s community colleges, which serve more than 2 million students and which are run by more than 70 governing bodies, were urged by that system’s chancellor on Monday to adopt a similar plan.
But those universities receive state aid, while private institutions like Rice and Notre Dame rely primarily on tuition, often paid by families who place a premium on small, in-person classes.But those universities receive state aid, while private institutions like Rice and Notre Dame rely primarily on tuition, often paid by families who place a premium on small, in-person classes.
In Orange, Calif., Daniele Struppa, president of Chapman University, another private school, said 80 percent of his $400 million annual budget depends on tuition — a far higher proportion than at, say, Cal State Fullerton 10 minutes away. Tuition and fees make up less than a fifth of the revenue stream at the so-called Cal States.In Orange, Calif., Daniele Struppa, president of Chapman University, another private school, said 80 percent of his $400 million annual budget depends on tuition — a far higher proportion than at, say, Cal State Fullerton 10 minutes away. Tuition and fees make up less than a fifth of the revenue stream at the so-called Cal States.
Dr. Struppa said that his university was still finalizing plans for the fall, but that a Thanksgiving end date was among the possible scenarios. Also being considered were requiring face masks and social distancing, designating dorm rooms for quarantining infected students, and marking one-way paths to reduce outdoor interactions, an idea under discussion at nearby Disneyland.Dr. Struppa said that his university was still finalizing plans for the fall, but that a Thanksgiving end date was among the possible scenarios. Also being considered were requiring face masks and social distancing, designating dorm rooms for quarantining infected students, and marking one-way paths to reduce outdoor interactions, an idea under discussion at nearby Disneyland.
He said faculty and administrators were weighing whether to bring students back before the typical Aug. 31 start date, or whether to shorten the weeklong break at Thanksgiving — or perhaps whether to keep things they way they were.He said faculty and administrators were weighing whether to bring students back before the typical Aug. 31 start date, or whether to shorten the weeklong break at Thanksgiving — or perhaps whether to keep things they way they were.
“Some in our working group say start later in September — give the epidemic a month to die down,” he said. “Another group says start earlier because it will come back in the winter, or people will get the flu and think they have corona. Everybody is making decisions with incomplete information.”“Some in our working group say start later in September — give the epidemic a month to die down,” he said. “Another group says start earlier because it will come back in the winter, or people will get the flu and think they have corona. Everybody is making decisions with incomplete information.”
At Notre Dame, which announced on Monday that it would start classes early, on Aug. 10, and eliminate fall break so students could leave campus by Thanksgiving, administrators sought advice from Mark Fox, the deputy health officer for St. Joseph County, Ind.At Notre Dame, which announced on Monday that it would start classes early, on Aug. 10, and eliminate fall break so students could leave campus by Thanksgiving, administrators sought advice from Mark Fox, the deputy health officer for St. Joseph County, Ind.
Updated July 7, 2020
The coronavirus can stay aloft for hours in tiny droplets in stagnant air, infecting people as they inhale, mounting scientific evidence suggests. This risk is highest in crowded indoor spaces with poor ventilation, and may help explain super-spreading events reported in meatpacking plants, churches and restaurants. It’s unclear how often the virus is spread via these tiny droplets, or aerosols, compared with larger droplets that are expelled when a sick person coughs or sneezes, or transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces, said Linsey Marr, an aerosol expert at Virginia Tech. Aerosols are released even when a person without symptoms exhales, talks or sings, according to Dr. Marr and more than 200 other experts, who have outlined the evidence in an open letter to the World Health Organization.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles.
A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
Only 6 percent of Notre Dame’s 11,000 or so students are from Indiana, according to a campus spokesman, and 10 percent come from outside the United States to the campus near South Bend.Only 6 percent of Notre Dame’s 11,000 or so students are from Indiana, according to a campus spokesman, and 10 percent come from outside the United States to the campus near South Bend.
“They said, ‘How worried should we be?’” Dr. Fox said. “Well, with an international student body, the risk is different.”“They said, ‘How worried should we be?’” Dr. Fox said. “Well, with an international student body, the risk is different.”
Paul Browne, Notre Dame’s vice president for public affairs and communications, said administrators decided that cutting down travel would be the smart approach.Paul Browne, Notre Dame’s vice president for public affairs and communications, said administrators decided that cutting down travel would be the smart approach.
“There’s a fall break of about a week,” he said, “and then there’s Thanksgiving, and then they’re back again and then home for Christmas — we wanted to avoid all those dispersals and reunions.”“There’s a fall break of about a week,” he said, “and then there’s Thanksgiving, and then they’re back again and then home for Christmas — we wanted to avoid all those dispersals and reunions.”
So far, officials at several universities said, the reopening plans have gotten a positive reception — even at Rice, where for many students fall break has traditionally meant a road trip to music festivals in Austin.So far, officials at several universities said, the reopening plans have gotten a positive reception — even at Rice, where for many students fall break has traditionally meant a road trip to music festivals in Austin.
“People want to be back on campus,” Mr. Leebron said. “And people want assurance that there’s a plan. If there are health concerns, we’ll adjust.”“People want to be back on campus,” Mr. Leebron said. “And people want assurance that there’s a plan. If there are health concerns, we’ll adjust.”
Dr. Fox said colleges would also need to be prepared for the possibility that a resurgence of the virus in the winter could make next spring semester even more uncertain.Dr. Fox said colleges would also need to be prepared for the possibility that a resurgence of the virus in the winter could make next spring semester even more uncertain.
“What happens after winter break?” he said. “In many ways, it is going to be even more important to get that right.”“What happens after winter break?” he said. “In many ways, it is going to be even more important to get that right.”