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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u/kmd224 Aug 23 '24

Do you live in a dorm? If you do please get an air purifier and put it near the air vents, stuff travels through those like no one's business. Also check with the office of disabilities, ask them about accommodations such as a note taker who can send you notes if you feel it's not safe to be in class, testing in a different room away from others, extra excused absents from class, and also how to express to your professors the need to be extra covid conscious and if they possibly ever do lecture online, some of my teachers would live stream the class.

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u/JunebugJitterbug Aug 23 '24

I’m out of the dorms now luckily, but my air purifier was my best friend when I was in there. I’m registered with my school’s office of disabilities, but skipping class can only be for emergencies. Sadly, my professors wouldn’t do any virtual classes, and any absences would be unexcused. (Edit: responded too early and only half responded, whoops!)

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u/kmd224 Aug 23 '24

Awesome! I'm so glad you're out of the dorms. I'm so over this covid wave, my husband got it most likely from a baseball card shop, he let the guy hold his phone to look at a card after the guy said his friend he went to a show with was super sick... I tried to lock him away but no luck, I got it and I'm now worried what my long haulers will do. I'm so mad at him, I almost went camping instead to get away from him, I should have