“Most people think that covid is in the rearview mirror,” said Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University. “And of course that’s a mistake.”
McGuire said the 1,850-student university has not noticed significant numbers of cases this semester. But she said she would not surprised if there is an uptick. The university still requires students to be vaccinated against covid. “We have not been as strict or vigorous about the booster shots,” McGuire said.
At Howard, Mighty said the university is watching whether covid cases require medical treatment or hospitalization. So far the signs are encouraging. “We have not seen an uptick in severity,” he said. He said the university has enough beds to isolate infected students.Many universities are dealing with covid much as they do seasonal illnesses, including the flu, that ebb and flow on campuses.
Asked for an update on covid this fall, a GMU spokeswoman wrote: “As of now, we are operating with standard health and wellness support through the student health office, and testing for any/all respiratory illnesses as needed with associated recommendations.” George Washington University, which has about 26,000 students in the District and Northern Virginia, is taking a similar approach. It has ended coronavirus testing, contact tracing and related measures. It “strongly recommends” but no longer requires covid vaccination. The university said it “will continue to monitor federal and local guidance, research and data, and the incidence of COVID-19 on our campuses to best support the health and safety of our community.