Two Years of COVID-19
March 11th, 2020.
It has been over two years since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic. Just recently, on Thursday, March 31st, Frostburg State University had updated their COVID guidelines, making masks optional on campus. This is because, while this may change in the future with the ever-changing climate, on-campus testing results show there was no rising of COVID positive tests after Spring Break.
With this recent development, let’s take a look at the past two years and all of the changes we have made it through, and as we continue to move forward in the new environment we are in now.
Late December 2019:
The first reports of patients developing symptoms of shortness of breath and fever in Wuhan, China. Just before the turn of the new year, the World Health Organization China Country Office is informed of numerous cases of pneumonia from an unknown cause.
During this time, FSU was going through Fall 2019 Finals and enjoying events such as winter sports, Storybook Holiday, the Theatre Department’s “Scrooge in Rouge”, CES’s Terry Barber Christmas performance, and Fall 2019 commencement.
January 2nd-15th, 2020:
The World Health Organization activates its incident management system across their country, regional, and headquarters offices. On the 5th, Chinese public health officials shared the genetic sequence of the unknown pneumonia virus through an online database, and CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases activates a Center Level Response for novel pneumonia of unknown cause.
On the 7th of January, Chinese authorities identified a novel coronavirus as the cause of the outbreak. Later, both the Thailand and Japanese Ministries of Health report imported cases of the lab-confirmed novel coronavirus.
During this time, FSU students were coming back from Winter break and settling into the Spring 2020 courses on campus.
Late January and Early February 2020:
On January 20th, the CDC confirmed the first lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 in the US. On January 31st, The World Health Organization International Health Regulation Emergency Committee declared the coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The White House 2019 novel Coronavirus Task Force announced new travel policies on the same day. On February 11th, WHO announced “COVID-19” as the official abbreviated name for the “coronavirus disease 2019”.
Back on campus, classes continued as usual, FSU held a Student Involvement Fair, Late@Lane held a Harry Potter themed evening, UPC hosted a Superbowl Party, and Democratic Debate Watch Parties were held in Lane.
Late February:
On February 23, 2020, the Italian government locks down the country of Italy as it becomes a global COVID-19 hotspot. Three days later, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, CDC’s Incident Manager for the COVID-19 Response, holds a telebriefing notifying the US to brace itself for community spread of the coronavirus.
During this time, Frostburg students enjoyed events such as CES’s Crys Matthews performance, UPC’s showing of the movie “Joker”, and multiple athletic events.
March 2020:
On March 11, 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, as around 4,616 deaths had been recorded at this point. Two days later, President Donald Trump declared a nationwide emergency. Over the next few days, the CDC issued an order for all cruise ships in waters that the U.S. has jurisdiction over to cease activity, and U.S. states begin to shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19. On March 17th, Moderna Therapeutics’ vaccine runs its first human trial in Seattle, Washington. On March 31st, Dr. Deborah Brix and Dr. Anthony Fauci announce that 100,000 to 240,000 deaths in the U.S. are expected even if social distancing and public health measures are “perfectly enacted”.
On March 10, FSU President Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk announced that all classes, following Spring Break, will shift to online instruction until “at least April 6.” Faculty rushed to change class schedules, assignments, and lectures and become familiar with online teaching platforms with the sudden end of in-person classes. There was still hope to be back to normalcy soon…
Mid 2020:
In May, U.S. unemployment rate hits 14.7% (The highest since the Great Depression), and U.S. Death toll surpasses 100,000.
By September, the world crosses 1 million deaths, with the U.S. and Brazil recording the most deaths.
At FSU, classes remain fully online as the Spring 2020 semester comes to an end. After an entire summer with COVID-19 still largely affecting students’ lives, the Office of the Provost sends an email to students regarding Fall 2020 classes. This email explained that courses, while some remain online, will most be “blended” instruction. Face masks were to be worn on campus at all times and students were to be tested upon return to campus. Students were also given the opportunity in April to select Pass for Credit/No Credit for grading due to the difficult changes.
End of 2020:
On December 11th, the FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the first COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech). On December 18th, a second COVID vaccine is issued- the Moderna vaccine. By the 24th, it was estimated that more than 1 million people in the U.S. were vaccinated against COVID-19. On December 30th, AstraZenica and University of Oxford’s vaccine was approved for emergency use in the UK and would begin distribution in the New Year.
Students ended their Fall 2020 semester with the blended courses. In September, the Provost announced the Spring 2021 schedule, including a lack of a Spring Break. The blended course format continued, similar to the Fall 2020 semester.
2021:
By the end of January, the number of COVID cases surpass 100 million, and by February, the death toll surpassed 500,000. On February 27th, the Johnson and Johnson one shot vaccine was approved by the FDA for emergency use. However, by April 13th, the CDC recommended the pausing of use of the J&J vaccine due to blood clot complications; ten days later, they re-recommend the continued use of J&J vaccine for people 18 and older.
In March, the CDC announced that fully vaccinated people can gather indoors without masks; however, in June, the “Delta variant” of the virus becomes dominant in the U.S., and in July, the CDC updated guidance for everyone in areas with substantial transmission to wear a mask while indoors.
During the Spring 2021 semester, events were still largely online, and many organizations were forced to be creative with their virtual events. Town Hall meetings and SGA meetings were virtual, fraternities and sororities held virtual recruitment events, UPC was able to hold their “Take & Make” series for students, and Staycation events were held in place of Spring Break, including a Drive-In movie, virtual board-gaming with the Ort Library, and roller skating mixed with fireworks. In May 2021, FSU announced that they would require all students and employees on campus for the Fall 2021 semester to provide proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Additionally, no matter their vaccination status, everyone was required to wear masks on campus.
By the end of August, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends the Pfizer vaccine for people 16 and older. In October of 2021, the CDC endorses the ACIP recommendation for COVID-19 booster shots for those 65 and older and those 18 and older living in long-term care setting, have underlying medical conditions, and who live or work in high-risk settings. By the end of November 2021, the CDC recommends that everyone over 18 who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine receive a booster shot 6 months after being fully vaccinated.
This brings us to the current Spring 2022 semester. COVID transmission numbers in our area have remained low, allowing FSU’s mask guidelines to be shifted from mandatory to optional. There is hope that this will remain the case; however, the possibility of a change remains high, so vigilance is everything. After looking over all of the changes that COVID-19 has brought on daily life, it is quite a fantastic feat that we have made it this far together. This article does not cover every single change, every experience, every hill that the FSU community (and the world) has had to climb and struggle through.
Putting this into perspective and looking back on the past two years is one definite way to see how strong we are as a society. This article is evidence of all that FSU has made it through. COVID-19 was a tragedy to befall the world, and many good people were lost in the midst of it. But even in the bleakest moments of this pandemic, there should always be hope for a better future. What goes down must come back up.
We should all hope that the future is bright for us Bobcats.
Sources:
The Author
