As the Delta variant becomes the dominant strain in Idaho and most of the state is labeled “high transmission” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of Idaho made the decision Wednesday to require masks in all university buildings, effective immediately.
While the university is not requiring vaccines due to an executive order, students are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated, according to an email sent by UI President Scott Green and Provost and Executive Vice President Torrey Lawrence.
Testing will no longer be held on campus or be required to attend classes, and students are encouraged to contact their health care providers or make an appointment at the Vandal Health Clinic if they may be symptomatic. Gritman Medical Center is requiring physician’s orders for COVID-19 testing.
Other precautions UI took last semester, like limiting indoor capacities, implementing social distancing and checking temperatures, will not be present this semester, according to the email. Classroom capacities will remain the same and in-person classes will not be transitioning online.
Those living in residence halls or Greek housing will be expected to isolate in the Targhee Hall isolation unit on campus if exposed. Students, faculty and staff living off-campus are expected to isolate themselves at home if exposed.
Eating area restrictions will no longer be in place, but grab-and-go options will be offered in the Idaho Student Union Building and the dining hall.
Brad Gary, marketing content manager at Gritman, said the hospital is treating COVID-19 patients and it hasn’t affected their ability to treat other types of patients. There are currently 131 COVID-19 cases in Latah county according to Public Health – Idaho North Central District.
UI will be putting their focus on vaccinations rather than testing by hosting vaccination clinics in the Student Recreation Center. Pre-registration and other information is available at the Vandal Health Clinic’s website.
“What the data is showing is that the majority of people who are getting sick and need hospitalization, at this point, are unvaccinated people and that the Delta variant moves very, very quickly,” UI Senior Director of Communications Jodi Walker said. “So it makes the most sense for us to spend time promoting vaccinations rather than trying to test, especially when we know so many of the cases we had last year were asymptomatic.”
According to a press release from Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s office, over 98% of Idaho’s new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths since Jan. 1 this year have been among the unvaccinated.
The CDC states unvaccinated people are still the “greatest concern” because the Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as other variants and can cause more severe symptoms. Vaccinated people are less likely to experience these effects, but should a vaccinated person get a breakthrough infection they are still able to spread the virus.
“We’re just really focused on how we can provide the safest environment for students to be here and engage in-person this fall,” Walker said. “That’s really where our efforts are right now.”
Anteia McCollum can be reached at [email protected]
Mike lopez
I’d make vaccines mandatory and take that executive order right to court.