How the Champagnat Quarantine Reveals a Fundamental COVID-19 Safety Issue

The highly-infectious COVID-19 virus spreads rapidly in densely-populated areas. On top of that, according to one study, researchers in South Korea found that 30% of infected people never show symptoms. This is why numerous colleges across the country have taken stringent measures to slow down infection rates, and Marist College is no exception. From dozens of signs across campus to mask mandates, the effort to halt the spread is certainly noticeable. 

However, it hit even closer to home for students living in Champagnat Hall when Wednesday, Aug. 26, the building experienced a temporary quarantine after an off-campus student interacted with students from the hall at a party.

Alphonse Vota ‘24, a freshman living in Champ, said he first received notification via MyU, a mobile communication app built for schools. His RA sent a message to other students on his floor asking them to return to their dorms immediately, while other students heard from an email hours later.

This is where a lack of a unified response to students can become a safety hazard. Vota’s message directed him to check his email for a different message from Vice President of Student Affairs Deborah DiCaprio, which provided instructions and details regarding Champagnat’s quarantine. Without the Microsoft Outlook app to check their school email, a student might have missed the urgent memo. This lengthy and involved process might seem tedious at first, but it is a necessary evil. It isn’t until you consider that a quarantine aims to minimize the risk of potentially infected students by using a quick intervention that this method of communication poses a significant risk. Time is of the essence and shrouded in uncertainty, it’s crucial that Champagnat’s residents return to their dorms as soon as possible.

Since COVID-19 spreads through respiratory droplets on various common surfaces, the chance of transmission increases exponentially if students continue to move about campus, touching surfaces like doorknobs and handrails. Without a way to consistently update all students in real- time, the amount of time lost not being quarantined could mean the difference between a positive and a negative test.

Regardless, the measures have worked to some extent, as Marist has only had two positive cases of COVID-19 on-campus this semester. In order to maintain that, there needs to be a more efficient and effective system of communication and an end to fragmentation, especially when it involves an infectious disease.

Source: Zachary Arce