March 29, 2024

With classes being in session for about a month, Wittenberg University’s COVID-19 cases remain relatively low with five active cases and 27 total positive cases as of Monday, Oct. 4.

Wittenberg is following through with their weekly testing for those who are unvaccinated, as stated when they announced their Pick a Pathway plan. This plan gives students the choice to get vaccinated or have mandatory testing every week. 

Although Wittenberg’s COVID-19 cases may be low, there has been another COVID-like cold going around. Students say symptoms include a sore throat, runny nose and loss of voice. 

“It starts out with a sore throat and then you eventually lose your voice,” said student Bailey Smith (’24). “Most of my friends have it.”

Overall, there have been 23 total COVID cases since the start of the 2021 school year. 14 of the cases were unvaccinated individuals, and nine were vaccinated. 

Dean of Students Casey Gill says the Pick a Pathway strategy seems to be successful, but making sure students get vaccinated will make the most difference. 

“There’s a lot of stress and work with mandatory testing, but we’re all very happy with how these are going on campus” said Gill. 

When asked whether or not the mask mandate in indoor spaces will be lifted, Dean Gill said that due to Clark’s County high positive COVID-19 cases and low vaccination rates, the mask mandate will stay as is. 

Over the summer, Wittenberg’s COVID-19 Response Team had a goal of 75% vaccinated students, but with the new Delta Variant, they’re hoping for at least 85% of students to be vaccinated in hopes of reaching herd immunity. 

Dean Gill is pushing for students to get vaccinated to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 on campus.   

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