Almost three years after its proclamation as a health crisis by the Department of Health and Human Services, the COVID-19 pandemic is running in its last few months under the official titles of both a national and public health emergency.
The Biden administration announced on Jan. 30 that although original expiration dates for emergency declarations were scheduled for March 1 and April 11, the lives of these two emergencies have been extended up until May 11 in order to give states sufficient leeway in creating their own COVID-19 guidelines. New York state, however, has already taken monumental steps towards attempting to return to pre-COVID-19 conditions, with the most aggressive being Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to remove the mask mandate within health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes. In a statement given by Acting State Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, he affirmed the governor’s choice, stating, “With safe and effective vaccines, treatments and more, we are able to lift the state’s masking requirement in health care settings as operators now develop and implement their own facility-specific plan.” Although the mask mandate has been removed statewide as of Feb. 12, health facilities still hold the power to require facial coverings based on transmissions levels of COVID-19 throughout their corresponding counties, including SUNY Oswego’s Mary Walker Health Center.
ries, an update to SUNY Oswego’s Oswego Forward plan on Jan. 31 clarifies how the university will continue with COVID-19 policy: “masking is still required in a health care setting (e.g., Mary Walker Health Center, on-campus vaccination clinic, etc.)” and in the event “of COVID-19 symptoms arising, an individual is required to wear a mask, get tested immediately and self-quarantine.” If a student tests positive for COVID-19, isolation in Moreland Hall or at home for five days is mandatory, with a following five-day period of required masking in all areas of campus. Given these policies, it seems that the university will continue to operate under similar circumstances for the foreseeable future, or at least until May 11.
Although the federal government is moving forward with legislation that will begin to minimize the policy impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUNY Oswego will continue to function at its discretion and in collaboration with health care experts and Oswego County Health Department partners. As explained in a statement White House, the end date of the public health emergency will have no impact on institutions such as businesses or schools, including both private and public universities. Until significant milestones are reached within Oswego County, which still has a 15.5% COVID-19 positivity rate as of Feb. 10 according to the CDC, SUNY Oswego will treat the federally-planned end date of COVID-19 as a mere statement, while observing statistical data as the real game-changer of current health policy.
As of Jan. 31, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have rated Oswego County’s transmission levels as a medium risk, with recommended actions including the use of masks in high-risk environments and following any isolation policies in place. Although these ratings are simply advisories, an update to SUNY Oswego’s Oswego Forward plan on Jan. 31 clarifies how the university will continue with COVID-19 policy: “masking is still required in a health care setting (e.g., Mary Walker Health Center, on-campus vaccination clinic, etc.)” and in the event “of COVID-19 symptoms arising, an individual is required to wear a mask, get tested immediately and self-quarantine.” If a student tests positive for COVID-19, isolation in Moreland Hall or at home for five days is mandatory, with a following five-day period of required masking in all areas of campus. Given these policies, it seems that the university will continue to operate under similar circumstances for the foreseeable future, or at least until May 11.
Although the federal government is moving forward with legislation that will begin to minimize the policy impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, SUNY Oswego will continue to function at its discretion and in collaboration with health care experts and Oswego County Health Department partners. As explained in a statement White House, the end date of the public health emergency will have no impact on institutions such as businesses or schools, including both private and public universities. Until significant milestones are reached within Oswego County, which still has a 15.5% COVID-19 positivity rate as of Feb. 10 according to the CDC, SUNY Oswego will treat the federally-planned end date of COVID-19 as a mere statement, while observing statistical data as the real game-changer of current health policy.
Photo by: Collin Knapp
