While cases of COVID-19 have been steadily decreasing in the United States in part due to the vaccine and restrictions in public places, currently new strains have been making themselves known around the world.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is currently in the green for COVID severity – that means there have been relatively few cases. The new strain of COVID being passed around,referred to as B.1.1.7, was first reported in the United Kingdom and has been recognized in Mesa County as of Feb. 5.
As of Feb. 26, there has only been one case of B.1.1.7 on the CMU campus. Co-chair of the Safe Together, Strong Together program John Marshall stated that he has been working with institutes Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to analyze the test results and find out if the strain is active.
“It does not appear to be any worse than the coronavirus that we all have come to know over the last year or so. While I don’t think there is any evidence of worse impacts, it does spread easier. What it really means for all of us is that we need to really carefully abide by protocols and make sure we are following the right precautions,” Marshall said.
Another strain of COVID, found in South Africa, is known as B.1.351. There is evidence that this variant may cause people to get sick even after getting the vaccine or after just having the virus. There is no evidence that it has reached the United States, but Marshall says the university is still going to be prepared if it does.
Marshall is hoping that vaccines will be available for all students before the spring semester comes to an end, in late April.
“You think about a university’s job and it’s to educate, so my hope is that we can work with everybody across campus to educate all of [our students and staff] on what science goes into the vaccine and why they are such an important thing. If we can do those things, I believe we will have a very high voluntary utilization of the vaccine,” Marshall said.
As CMU continues the semester, protocols are staying tightly in place. Protocols and CMU’s continued work with Mesa County, Harvard and MIT are what has kept the university open when many others across the country have shut down.
“Our classroom protocols for masking, distancing and cleaning have been very effective thus far in creating safe spaces for students to learn; we feel confident that will continue to be the case. Plus, our robust testing adds another layer of monitoring that will let us know if we need to do even more,” Vice President of Academic Affairs, Kurt Haas said.
Students are encouraged to look at the website for a weekly update on COVID numbers, get tested if they are feeling unwell and reach out to Student Services with any other questions. Student Services can be reached at (970) 248-1366 or at safety@coloradomesa.edu.
“We have been one of the most successful universities in the country in the last year and a large portion of credit goes to our students, you guys have really hung in there and abided by safety protocols, the green screens, all those things. [I am] proud to be a Mav and proud to be associated with this campus,” Marshall said.
