By now you’ve probably heard the good news: The state of South Carolina is offering COVID-19 vaccination to everyone over the age of 16. Unless there are any Doogie Howsers on campus (did you get that reference?), that means you are eligible.
(To be clear, we’re not requiring students to be vaccinated. But the Task Force is strongly recommending it. It’s safeand it works. To find a clinic near you, check out the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control’s vaccine locator website here. Each vaccine site has their own process for scheduling an appointment, so be sure to pay close attention to the details.)
While this is certainly good news, we wish vaccine availability for you came a little sooner. Why? Because spring break is right around the corner. And that means we can expect a spike in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks. Here’s why:
- Cases are on the rise globally, signaling the potential for a fourth wave of infections. We should never live in fear, but it’s important to recognize that the pandemic isn’t over. Not yet, anyway.
- Here at AU, we’re also seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. Just last week, there were no known cases of the coronavirus on campus. Zip, zilch, nada. While that’s a good thing, some of us let our guard down. As of this moment, we’re up to seven (7) total known cases, which is a four-week high.
- Case rates always spike after holidays. On campus, our highest case count ever (55) came after Labor Day. And if you look at national trends, you’ll see coronavirus infections rose across the country after Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Look, no one is saying you can’t enjoy yourself over the long Easter weekend. You deserve and have earned a break. But we are asking you to practice caution. Avoid large crowds. Wear a mask or face covering. Keep your distance from others. And, perhaps most importantly, if you get sick over the weekend, stay off campus until you recover.
We’re almost there, Trojans! Let’s finish strong. This weekend, have fun, be safe and remember that caring for yourself helps care for others.
Happy Easter, everyone!