Campus | Photo by Arden Reimer | The Wright State Guardian
As Wright State University students, staff and faculty return to campus for the fall semester, so does the concern of spread of illness, including COVID-19 and Monkeypox. Community experts comment on the situation and offer advice.
COVID
SARS-CoV2, the disease that causes COVID-19 spread to the U.S. in early 2020. Two-years later, the illness is still prevalent in the nation with the Centers for Disease Control reporting the national current 7-day average of new cases at 95,652.
“COVID is here to stay. We are riding on waves of different strains. It won’t be like the flu where it is seasonal, it will always be here,” Kettering Health Network employee Kacee Floyd said.
According to Wright State University Dean of Students Chris Taylor and Greene County Public Health nurse Samantha Webb, the precautions for COVID remain the same: washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing.
WSU’s masking policy remains at ‘strongly recommended.’ Additionally, this fall all residential students had to submit a negative COVID test prior to move-in.
Monkeypox
In May, 2022, the World Health Organization declared a new outbreak of the Monkeypox disease. Originally confined to Europe, the smallpox-similar illness spread to the U.S.
According to the CDC, there have been 123 reported cases in Ohio as of Aug. 18.
“Monkeypox doesn’t spread easily compared to COVID,” Dr. Jeffrey Weinstein, provider at Kettering Health said.
Monkeypox spreads through direct contact with infectious sores, bodily fluid and scabs, or even on clothing when shared with an infected individual, according to WHO.
Indications of the disease are flu-like symptoms and a rash that turns to blisters or pimples,
The CDC recommends healthcare workers and those exposed to the viars to receive the JYNNEOS vaccine, which is a two-dose vaccine.
According to Taylor, The University will continue to monitor the situation and will immediately communicate urgent updates to the campus. If students have concerns, they can contact the student health center.
