Let’s Talk About the COVID Resurgence

In the Spring of 2023, my first article for the Vanguard Voice was about whether or not SARS-CoV-2 was “over.” I asked the student population their opinion, to which many responded that we are not in crisis anymore, but COVID is something to still be wary of. The poll taken then resulted in 67% of people saying COVID is not over, while 33% said it is over.

Now, a year later, there have been talks of a COVID resurgence. Many people have been missing classes and work due to either exposure or positive test results. However, it is difficult to put numbers to this problem because the CDC has stopped counting the new cases of COVID-19.

Because the CDC has taken this step, analysts from the Center for Microbiome Innovation at the University and Scribbs Research have turned to testing wastewater to count the number of infection cases.

This is a process that does not require actual tests. Instead, a sample of wastewater is taken from each city and tested for the concentration of COVID-19 to quantify the cases in that city.

Testing may be an option to stay safe.

These cases have pointed to a big surge in the number of people with COVID. And with the wastewater data, hospitals have reported that there were about 35,000 people hospitalized with COVID-19 during the last week of 2023.

Although this seems like a stark improvement from the same week in 2022—which had an average of 62,648 existing cases per day—35,000 is not a number to ignore, especially when those people were being hospitalized

This, of course, is nowhere near the amount of hospitalized during the other surges—but analysts who are studying wastewater say that this spike in cases could get up to a million new cases a day when the surge hits its peak.

Knowing what we now know about this virus, it is frightening to see this new data. We all experienced horrors at the hands of COVID. So what should be done now that we see it coming back?

Some have said this is the “new normal,” especially considering the pattern of surges during specific times of the year. It may be easy to lean on the idea that COVID is just the new, more deadly flu. But considering the number of deaths that we experienced during 2020-2022, one should ask themselves: is this the right thing to do?

According to Student Nursing Association Vanguard University (SNAVU) President, Emilie Sarringhaus, “If you have COVID symptoms, which are often similar to cold systems, you should wear a mask, and test if possible.”

“Those are two sure-fire ways to limit the amount of people who you could expose,” Emilie explained. “Especially on our college campus, since we are all interacting in classes, dorms, and other shared spaces. We have increased chances of concentrated spread.”

Again, there can be a false sense of comfort in the attitude of COVID-19 surges being the new normal. This disease has taken countless lives and so much more from us. But there are some things we can take comfort in. We can feel at ease with the fact that there are steps we can take to protect ourselves and get through this once more.