User:Cornellbio/COVID-19 on College Campuses

Arden Wolfe (AW689) and Ellie Park (EGP39)

Kathleen Hefferon - BIOMI 1110

May 6, 2024

COVID-19 on College Campuses
COVID-19, or coronavirus disease 2019, is a highly transmittable disease that can be spread on college campuses via respiratory droplets carrying the infectious virus, SARS-CoV-2. High-density environments, such as college campuses, create an ideal environment for transmission. Spread occurs when a person infected with the virus breathes, coughs, sneezes, or comes into contact with a non-infected individual. Universities are high-risk environments for the spread of COVID-19, as there are densely populated living quarters, constant social interaction, and large gatherings

General Transmission
When an infected person talks, breathes, coughs, or sneezes near other people, they can infect others. When exposed to infected individuals, a person can inhale these droplets and particles without knowing, infecting them with the virus. These droplets can also land on a person’s eyes, nose, and mouth, which can also cause infection. Indirect transmission is less likely to occur but happens when an infected person touches surfaces, and another person comes in contact with the same surface before disinfected.

Spread in Universities
College campuses often have thousands of students who frequently interact with one another. On college campuses, many events occur throughout the day, such as classes, club meetings, sports, meals in the dining hall, or parties. Students share facilities and often live near each other, sharing rooms, bathrooms, and other living spaces. The network of students is very interconnected, and each student can come in direct or indirect contact with hundreds of students a day. These factors make universities grounds for mass infection. Due to the large number of people in universities, and the constant contact students have with one another, the COVID-19 virus can spread very quickly throughout campuses.

Impact on Students
COVID-19 has an impact on college students in terms of physical health, mental health, and academic performance. In 2020 during the pandemic, thousands of universities switched to an online learning model. This disrupted the education of millions of students because many found it difficult to concentrate on online classes. Other long-term academic consequences are missed classes due to long-term health effects and delayed graduation. There are many negative mental health impacts, including isolation, increased stress, depression, and more. A survey reported that over 95% of college students reported negative mental health impacts as a result of COVID-19. Although less common, in severe cases, college students can also experience long-term physical effects from COVID-19, including fatigue, respiratory or cardiovascular concerns, taste changes, and brain fog. A study conducted by Ohio University found that 15% of collegiate athletes infected with COVID-19 had evidence of myocarditis, which is believed to occur as a result of exercising while infected with the virus. As of March 23rd, 2023, over 260,000 college students in the United States tested positive for COVID-19. Although many college students can recover from the virus, over 100 college students in the United States died from COVID-19 in 2021.

Preventative Measures
There are many preventative strategies that universities can take to minimize COVID-19 transmission among students and faculty on campus. Preventative measures include required vaccination, frequent testing, improved ventilation and air filtration systems, online learning, social distancing, and education. HEPA-grade filters can be added in classrooms and dormitories to consistently manage air quality. College campuses can also offer free COVID-19 tests and masks to decrease the likelihood of transmission. Physical and mental health resources should be available for students to discuss their needs. These strategies are essential for universities to implement given the high level of interactions that occur daily.