There’s no place like Stay At Home for the holidays
As the semester wraps up, students are anxious to travel home as COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Maine and across the country. Several students have alluded to a sense of security on campus due to the frequent testing and community effort to control the virus.
Nanne Nicholas `23, from Boston, said, “I would say I feel safer with COVID[-19] numbers and precautions at school just because of all the available testing and precautions the school takes.”
There are currently six active cases on campus, which along with the statewide increase in cases, has caused campus to transition to the yellow health code level. The extra precautions make students feel safer.
“I feel safer with COVID[-19] numbers/precautions at school. At home there are a greater number of cases and I feel that people are starting to take the virus less seriously,” Tori Richards `23, from Yarmouth, MA, said.
Colby has been recognized nationally for containing the virus on campus and allowing classes to resume, but this is not the case across most of the country.
“I feel safer with COVID[-19] at school as there are fewer cases and we are tested frequently.” Kurt Harmening `23, from Minneapolis, said. “Also, the Colby administration is much more effective at preventing COVID[-19] than the Minnesotan government as they punish students more frequently for not adhering to the masking policy.”
Traveling into areas where masks are not the norm is a nerve-wracking transition, especially as more information becomes available and the virus begins to affect different populations.
Alex Halprin `22, from Saddle River, NJ, pointed out, “I feel safer at school because younger people, like our parents’ age, are starting to be infected more — it’s getting complicated out there.”
There is a general concern that college students traveling home for the holidays will bring the virus with them and potentially start new outbreaks, which is why COVID-19 testing is still important.
In an email to students, Dean of Students Barbara Moore shared the following message:
“As you prepare to head home, I hope you will consider the health and wellbeing of those you will spend time with. Getting tested before you go and strongly adhering to our safety measures over the remainder of your days on campus will help ensure you do not inadvertently carry the virus home or elsewhere.”
Almost nowhere is testing as accessible as this campus for people associated with the College.
The biweekly testing requirement has allowed campus life to return to an almost normal function throughout the semester, and students face a different situation as they head home.
“I plan to make sure I have my negative test results when I arrive home and then also plan to quarantine in my house,” Nicholas said. “I don’t know if I will necessarily do a strict two week quarantine, but I will be hunkering down and social distancing from anyone who isn’t my family.”
While the school is requiring adherence to the testing plan and deans are encouraging students to be considerate as they travel, families have their own comfort levels too.
“I will quarantine for two weeks or maybe longer in a part of my house which is completely separate from the rest of the house.” Abby Eng `22, from Berkely, CA, said. “When I get home I will go straight upstairs and not interact with my family members unless I am masked, outdoors, and socially distanced.”
Depending on the distance they must travel to return home, students have different plans regarding safe and efficient transportation.
Marta Torelli `21, from Hampton, NH, said, “I will definitely be quarantining and the drive is only about two hours. I’ve never been to my parents’ new house, so that’ll be exciting to explore on some socially distanced walks out and about.”
Once home, many students will be able to relax, but traveling safely is its own challenge.
“When I travel home, I plan to quarantine for around five days to see if any symptoms come up. I also plan on wearing my mask at all times when traveling and using hand sanitizer frequently, etc,” Richards said.
“I plan to stay healthy by wearing a mask and washing my hands on the way back, and once home plan to quarantine until the symptom period has elapsed. Most likely quarantine for a few days till we are sure of no symptoms,” Harmening said.
“In order to stay safe while traveling home via airplane, I am going to wear an N95 mask and face shield, constantly wash hands, and avoid others in the airport as much as possible,” Eng explained.
The College administration has instructed students to continue keeping track of symptoms in the CoVerified app through Nov. 30, mostly as a precaution for those remaining on campus. The frequency of delayed symptoms with this virus requires extra vigilance in keeping track of who may have been exposed to the virus.
Quarantined and isolated students will stay in their current housing until they are cleared to travel.
Moore acknowledged the momentous nature of students’ dispersal from the secure bubble of campus.
“Living in a community this fall where everyone was tested regularly and focused on health has created a sense of safety. It has been wonderful for us to have the opportunity to interact and engage in the ways we have,” Moore said. “As cases rise around the country and as you enter another living environment and community for the next several weeks, please stay vigilant—for your own health and that of everyone around you.”
Everyone on campus seems to be adhering to the necessary precautions in hopes that they don’t get sick or contact-traced in this last week of school.
~ Molly George `23
