Photo courtesy of Marco Verch Professional Photographer via Flickr
By Lily Benn ’24
Staff Writer
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States ended its public health emergency declaration about the widespread danger of COVID-19 in May 2023. However, a new rise in cases indicates the virus has not gone anywhere.
The newest variant of COVID-19 has been dubbed “Eris”, according to U.S. News & World Report, and accounted for 30% of new cases as of late September. The same article stated that although there is a recent decrease in hospitalizations as of Sept. 29, experts are warning of fall and winter waves of COVID-19 cases, as the new variant is causing a rise in infections.
Hospital admissions for COVID-19 doubled in August, and a sample of federal surveillance laboratories reported a tripling in positive cases in July and August, CNN reported. The outlet went on to explain that anecdotally, it may seem like everyone knows someone who is infected with COVID-19. According to CNN, experts say there are likely more cases than the current federal tracking systems can capture.
The CDC has explained that national reporting of COVID-19 cases has changed since the public health emergency was in effect, as many laboratories and government systems are no longer required to report cases.
This federal data is likely not accurate, given that public interest in testing, as well as the widespread use of rapid home testing, is declining, as CNN reported. CNN also suggested that COVID-19 infections in the U.S. are likely higher than the current reported number.
Many public places and institutions, including Mount Holyoke College, have also changed their COVID-19 precautions.
In an email sent to the Mount Holyoke community on Sept. 22, the College informed students that COVID-19 self-test kits are available in the Student Life suite starting Sept. 25, during the hours the suite is open. According to Mount Holyoke’s online COVID-19 policy, after July 1, 2023, students were no longer required to notify Health Services about their positive COVID-19 test and infection.
The College is also no longer tracking COVID-19 cases on campus or handing out KN95 masks as readily as it had in the past. The online reports of COVID-19 rapid tests and KN95 mask supply are also not up to date, as Mount Holyoke’s previous protocol did not include supplying these items to students.
According to an interview with a student from the Class of 2024 who had COVID-19 at Mount Holyoke this semester, students are still becoming infected and coming in close contact with others. This student detected her positive infection results with her own supply of home tests from last semester and those she purchased herself. At the time, Mount Holyoke was not supplying any rapid home tests or PCR tests, as they had in the past.
“I did not feel supported by MHC during my isolation period. I read through all the COVID guidelines as soon as I tested positive, but they didn’t really offer many resources,” the student said.
She explained that the first rapid at-home test she took while symptomatic was negative, but that 12 hours later, her test was positive.
Since the College's Protocols no longer supports meal delivery for those with COVID-19, the student’s friends brought her food using the College’s reusable takeout container service, USEFULL.
“Even with friends bringing me food, however, I was worried about exposing them to COVID when they took back my USEFULL containers. I was also worried about exposing others on my floor to COVID through a shared bathroom,” the student said.
According to this student, previous Mount Holyoke protocols would have eased her worries and changed her COVID-19 infection experience on campus this semester, but she explained that some parts may still have been difficult.
“In the past, students had access to food delivery services, which would have eliminated logistical issues and anxiety around acquiring food,” the student said. “Isolation housing would also have helped protect others on my floor from COVID exposure through shared bathrooms, but having to move to isolation housing while really symptomatic and sick would have been stressful.”
According to CNN, a majority of people in the United States now have some level of immunity to COVID-19. CDC-partnered biotechnology firm Biobot Analytics performs wastewater surveillance of the amount of virus particles detected in major sewage systems, CNN explained.
The article states that the amounts of viral concentrations seen in wastewater are similar to what they were at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. However, according to CNN, the amount of viral matter an individual sheds varies depending on their immunity, which is difficult to measure.
CNN explained that though many people treat COVID-19 like the flu, it is deadlier, has more frequent waves and has long-term health implications for some people.
The student expressed similar sentiments as the CNN article. “General public interest and commitment to preventing the spread of [COVID-19] has definitely decreased,” she said. “I think many of us have also gotten a bit complacent.”
In another CNN article, experts explained that there is less of a risk when someone is infected with COVID-19 in late 2023. Despite this, it is still important to take caution, as the influx in cases and continuing prevalence of COVID-19 on campus has shown.