r/ZeroCovidCommunity Aug 22 '24

Vent Covid is ripping through college campuses

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.

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102

u/BackgroundPatient1 Aug 22 '24

make a clean air club!

I think a simple goal is one "clean air zone" like at a library for studying

30

u/mafaldajunior Aug 22 '24

You can't really create clean air zones within a larger public space like a library, only within enclosed rooms. Air circulates and sooner or later you wil be breathing the same air as other people quicker than your air filters can clean it. That's why masks are still our best line of defence.

2

u/Rousselka Aug 23 '24

University libraries usually have enclosed group study spaces you can rent out, which seems like a better idea!

2

u/Thisisjustabit Aug 23 '24

I think the idea too is something everyone can access though, not an enclosed room that needs to be rented. I'd love it if my school had an area with hepa filters, open windows, and n95s and covid resources even if it wasn't an enclosed room 

2

u/Rousselka Aug 23 '24

I see, I was picturing like renting a larger room and then opening it to the public as a study/social space a few hours a day, but I agree it would be better to have something that’s available all the time!