After years of quarantine and vaccinations, followed by the last two years of relative peace, people have been less concerned about Covid-19. Now, a handful of positive cases have emerged on campus, and the Langston community is reminded of the remaining risks and protocols of the virus.
Based on information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Covid-19 is the 3rd leading cause of death in Oklahoma. US hospital admissions increased by 8.7%, with 18,871 total hospitalizations between Aug. 27 – Sept. 2. There have been 1,140,278 deaths from Covid-19, with the weekly death count sitting at 813 for the week of Sept. 2.
During the beginning of the school year, when students settle in and as their immune systems adjust to new environments, it is common to see a rise in sickness. Arian Cormier, a nurse at Langston’s University health clinic, said, “Of course, when school starts Covid always takes off, and when school started strep was prominent here.” When asked about recent cases of Covid-19 on campus, she said. “I wouldn’t say that Covid is taking off. People are coming to get tested, but I’m getting more negatives than positives… I’m probably getting anywhere from two to five positives a week and that just varies from how many people are coming to get tested.”
Ryan Johnson, an assistant professor of chemistry, is in his first year at Langston University. During the start of this school year, Johnson got Covid-19 within his first week of teaching. “My experience with Covid was terrible. Overall, I felt sluggish, tired – I know that everybody has different types of symptoms, but in my case, I had a fever, I had a terrible headache … and there was times where my breathing wasn’t normal.” When asked if he was nervous to return to campus, Johnson said, “I wouldn’t say I was nervous, but I didn’t know the expectations … this is my first time ever having Covid, so I didn’t know how people were going to trip out. When I came back, I was negative, so I knew I was fine.”
What does this mean for students who test positive for Covid-19? According to Jet Turner, the assistant director of communications at Langston University, “Covid is an endemic, meaning it’s here to stay. It’s like the flu, it’s seasonal – and so we have to treat it as such at this point … we’re instructing students currently to stay in your room while you’re positive. If you have roommates, please wear a mask … any coordinations that you need, as far as online services for classes or food, that’s being handled on a case-by-case basis.”
Students are expected to get their food from their roommates or through their personal friends who are comfortable enough to make those accommodations for them. For students that have tested positive and are in need of other accommodations, the university recommends talking to the housing department. According to Comier, CDC regulations require a five-day isolation period after testing positive for Covid-19. Students that do test positive will be excused from class and required to provide a negative Covid-19 test before returning to class.
To get Covid-19 testing students can go to Langston’s University Health Clinic located in the University Womens building on campus or call (405)-466-3335 to set up an appointment. Walgreens, CVS and Walmart also provide Covid-19 testing. If students test positive at the Women’s Health Clinic, the doctor will immediately send the information to Dean Busby. From there, their professors will be notified that the student has tested positive for Covid-19 and isolation and scheduling plans will be made.
In the meantime, students should remember to frequently wash their hands, stay home if they feel sick, and, if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 or that they suspect of having Covid-19, get tested as soon as possible.
Kaycie Washington
Staff Writer
Kaycie Washington is a junior broadcast journalism major
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The Gazette serves as the student voice of Langston University. It is produced within the Department of Communication as a teaching tool and local news source for the campus community. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the writers whose names appear with the articles and do not necessarily represent the views of Langston University.
