Education experts are now urging higher education institutions in the United States to start planning for the potential impacts to be inflicted by the new omicron variant as even the sector is not vulnerable to such threats.
Officials from colleges and universities around the country are now wondering when the new variant will arrive on their campuses.
Key Takeaways:
- Experts say that U.S. institutions should begin planning for the arrival of the new COVID-19 variant, omicron.
- College campuses are particularly vulnerable to viral outbreaks, experts say.
- Experts urge college authorities to consider re-implementing prevention measures.
Although no cases had been reported in the United States as of Tuesday, Gerri Taylor, co-chair of the American College Health Association COVID-19 task team, believes the variant will be recognized in the country sooner rather than later.
In response, colleges must start preparing for the probable impacts omicron may inflict not only on their campuses but also on international students, the sector, and all of its stakeholders.
Vaccines are thought to be critical in halting the spread of the new strain. Vaccination rates among college-aged adults in the United States are substantially higher at 68 percent than the national average, although they still lag behind.
College campuses, according to experts, are particularly vulnerable to viral outbreaks, but proactive safety measures and frequent communication could prevent them from becoming an omicron hotspot.
Colleges and universities had been easing up on some of their harshest masking and distancing practices prior to the onset of the new coronavirus variant.
As difficult as it may be, experts urged college authorities to consider re-implementing prevention measures.
While college administrators await further information regarding the potential threat posed by omicron, they are encouraged to be transparent and upfront with students and employees.
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