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How did we get here?
I've been following updates from Notre Dame (my alma mater) throughout this pandemic and wanted to share them to provide a little context for some recent events.
A thread (my first one!)
https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/1295855470415089665
I've been following updates from Notre Dame (my alma mater) throughout this pandemic and wanted to share them to provide a little context for some recent events.
A thread (my first one!)
https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/1295855470415089665
On May 18, Notre Dame became one of the first colleges in the country to announce an in-person fall semester after consulting with local and national medical experts and infectious disease departments. https://news.nd.edu/news/notre-dame-to-begin-fall-semester-on-campus-the-week-of-aug-10/
Over the summer, the university, in partnership with LabCorp, sent COVID-19 tests to the nearly 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students returning for the 2020-2021 school year (yielding a <0.3% positivity rate). https://news.nd.edu/news/99-7-of-notre-dame-students-tested-covid-free-before-returning-to-campus/
Before students arrived, the university set up an on-campus testing site, created 12,000 "Welcome Back" kits with thermometers, hand sanitizer, and masks, and worked out spacing logistics to accommodate social distancing and contact tracing. https://twitter.com/NotreDame/status/1291823027039150083?s=20
August 6: 1st COVID-19 case reported before the first day of classes on August 10 https://here.nd.edu/our-approach/dashboard/
Despite ND's efforts to promote social distancing, mask wearing, hand hygiene, symptom monitoring through daily health checks, it could not regulate what students did outside of the classroom. (recent surge linked to off-campus parties) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-cases-notre-dame-off-campus-party/
As reported by @TollyTaylor @WSBT, the university struggled to meet the testing needs of students despite telling them in the summer that ND had a comprehensive testing plan set up. https://wsbt.com/news/operation-education/notre-dame-students-share-coronavirus-testing-struggles
"One student said he called on Wednesday with symptoms and got no response. He called back Thursday and got through, and he says a nurse apologized and told him the COVID Response Unit received about 1,000 student calls on Wednesday and that the unit was overwhelmed."
This thread is not meant to point fingers, propose policy, or ignite a polarized discussion on whether to reopen schools or continue with the college football season but instead meant to provide context to concerns some may have regarding the reopening of college campuses.
ND had resources, funding, and months of planning and still couldn't avoid this outbreak.
What does this mean for campuses planning to bring students back with fewer resources, less funding, a much larger student population, no entry testing, or fewer months of planning?
What does this mean for campuses planning to bring students back with fewer resources, less funding, a much larger student population, no entry testing, or fewer months of planning?
Final thoughts:
-Hoping that the recent outbreaks at ND & UNC will urge officials at other schools planning an in-person fall semester to make necessary adjustments.
-Praying for a speedy recovery for those affected & a united effort across the nation to crush the curve.
-Hoping that the recent outbreaks at ND & UNC will urge officials at other schools planning an in-person fall semester to make necessary adjustments.
-Praying for a speedy recovery for those affected & a united effort across the nation to crush the curve.
