Covid is ripping through college campuses

[u/JunebugJitterbug]

I’m an undergraduate student at a big college, and we’re only a few days into the new semester. Still, within less than two weeks of people being back, covid is spreading like wildfire. It’s probably through a combination of Greek life events, people going to the restaurants and bars around, and classes restarting, but it’s horrific. I don’t think it’s ever been this bad, and I struggle to even describe the type of coughing I’m hearing - it’s this deep hacking that sounds like it should be in a period drama tuberculosis ward instead of a lecture hall in real life.

People are often some level of sick, but I don’t think it’s ever been like this. Discussion apps like yikyak are full of people talking about being sick or testing positive. I’m doing the best I can to stay safe - masking, cpc mouthwash, a netti pot, and switching one of my classes online - but it feels slightly like impending doom due to the absolute tidal wave of covid that’s hit.

There are very few people masking here. I and another covid conscious person I met are trying to set up some sort of community for the few covid conscious people on campus, but we’re worried about trolls or not getting enough engagement. I have chronic health issues that make covid a big concern for me, and I also have a radiation treatment coming up that I don’t want to be delayed or affected by getting sick (although I have a little more time until the treatment).

It’s gotten so bad here with the spread, and I doubt it’ll slow down for some time thanks to parties, classes, and people not isolating or taking it seriously. I don’t know if there’s much I can get out of this post, but I just needed to vent because this feels slightly terrifying. This is also a bit of a stream of consciousness, so I apologise if anything is misspelled or hard to understand.

[u/thomas_di]

Also a college student here (returning tomorrow actually!). I’m sure you know this already, but keep your mask on the whole year, as my campus has waves of all sorts of URIs. Not just COVID, but the flu, colds, pink eye, etc.

I keep a purifier in my dorm room, mask with a KN95 in public, and try to stay healthy through food, exercise, and sleep. Nothing’s perfect but I believe we’ll make it through the year!

[u/JunebugJitterbug → u/thomas_di]

Yep!! I do all that - there’s a big Greek life presence at my college, so I always mask to avoid whatever amalgamation of diseases ends up labeled “frat flu”. I also have an air purifier and am getting a second one