By Sydney Ko
Boston University News Service
During a CBS “60 Minutes” interview on Sept. 18, President Biden made a statement claiming the pandemic is “over.” In response, students at Boston University weighed in on how they will navigate the campus amidst COVID-19’s feeble but noticeable presence.
Madi Koesler, a first-year undergraduate student in the College of Communication, said Biden’s statement was “pre-emptive” and was surprised by the claim.
Koesler said while the pandemic seemed to be under control, people still need to put in the effort to prevent further cases from spiking. She added students should still take safety precautions on campus.
Doing her part, Koesler said she wears a mask whenever she felt unwell and urged the rest of the student body to do the same.
“In general, we should be considerate to those around [us],” Koesler said.
Despite the President’s statement and the concerns of students, the University’s fall COVID-19 protocol remains unchanged. Students are not required to test negative before arriving on campus, and masks are not required in classrooms.
Tiffany Yang, a graduate student studying Applied Business Analytics, said she felt as though the pandemic had come to an end since she set foot in the U.S.
Yang, originally from Taiwan, said the U.S.’s attitude towards COVID-19 precautions is far more relaxed than what she experienced back home.
She explained masking was mandatory in Taiwan, even in outdoor spaces.
Yang added she contracted the virus a few months before her arrival in the U.S. After a swift recovery, she said the virus felt like catching the common flu.
COVID-19 has killed more than one million Americans to date. The virus continues to be labeled as a Public Health Emergency, and remains an international concern for the World Health Organization with more than 400 people dying daily in the U.S., according to John Hopkins University data.
Despite the ill -experience, Yang said she prefers the U.S.’s eased attitude towards COVID-19, rather than Taiwan’s strict masking regulations, which includes wearing a mask outdoors in open spaces.
This relaxed restriction felt like a relief to finally be able to go out and revert to a sense of normalcy.
“I like to go out, I like going to school and learning in person,” Yangshe said. “This virus won’t disappear, we have to learn to co-exist with it.”
Feature photo credit: Mika Baumeister / Unsplash
