With the Covid-19 Omicron variant running rampant across the world, students returned to campus with new safety guidelines reminiscent of the 2020-2021 academic year. With students returning from all around the world, the School is taking vigilant measures to keep everyone safe.
Before students could return to campus they needed either one negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival or two negative antigen tests, one 48 hours prior to arrival and the second 24 hours prior to arrival. When they arrived on campus, students were tested once again before entering their dorms.
After witnessing the Covid-19 outbreak on campus following the School’s decision not to test all students after Thanksgiving Break, many students were relieved that this decision was made. “I think it created a lot of animosity between students and the administration when the School didn’t test for the beginning of Winterlude, but students were also doing things to make Covid-19 worse,” Orville Amankwah ’22 said.
During the first week back from break, all classes were held virtually while the Health Center ran multiple rounds of testing to ensure that any positive cases did not spread. In order to further mitigate the spread of the virus, the rules and restrictions that were implemented in the few days before winter break were extended through the first week on campus. Grab-and-go meals were provided, sports practices and games were cancelled, and ensemble rehearsals were moved to be virtual.
Some students found the virtual format difficult. “It’s hard to focus with online learning, and it’s pretty slow,” said Cooper Ackerman ’23.
Amankwah agreed, “It took all my want to be in classes away. I understand that teachers were struggling with that too — it’s such a daunting thing to Zoom into a classroom full of students who don’t want to be online.”
On Monday, January 10, in-person classes resumed, though many restrictions remained. Masks were required indoors, and room to room and dorm to dorm visitation was still prohibited. The dining hall continued serving grab-and-go meals, with boarders required to eat in their rooms or outside, while day students had access to St. John Hall. Most other common spaces resumed normal hours, but sports games were postponed.
In an email on Thursday, January 13, the School announced the opening of dine-in service in the dining hall, St. John Hall, and the Tuck Shop to boarding students the following day. Lanphier Cafe reopened on Tuesday, January 18. Sports games also began again last weekend on January, 12. “It’s nice to be back on campus with the team and play together again,” said Zephyr Simus ’23.
On January 7, the School announced dates for a vaccine clinic for students, “12 or older and in need of a first, second, or booster dose,” on January 13 and February 3, in hopes to immunize the community and allow for fewer restrictions. Many students got their booster at the clinic, in hopes that the vaccine will mean more normal living is in sight. Given the massive influx of students to the clinic, however, some students were turned away due to a shortage of vaccines, but are set to receive the vaccine at a later date.
The administration is monitoring the situation carefully and taking the necessary precautions to prevent any further positive cases. The Medical Director, Dr. Miriam Cohen, explained that “the signs that we could loosen up the restrictions” include “higher booster rates and a decline in Covid-19 cases beyond the campus.”
Regarding a return to online learning and quarantine, Dr. Cohen said, “I think it’s not likely. I don’t foresee that happening unless there is an entirely new variant causing trouble.” As the vaccination percentage of the school population increases, more facilities will open up and more freedom will be available.
Many students have leaned into the community to find optimism as the uncertainty of the next few months play out. Many students greatly appreciated gathering together for the sledding event on Friday, January 7. “It was especially tough for the first week back when we had to quarantine,” said day student Hugo Chung ’22. “Seeing all my friends and everyone else during senior sledding was a reminder for how great Choate could be.”
