I've started my final year of teaching at Brigham Young University, the end of a career that began in 1983. I'll be retiring next summer. It just so happens that my last year of teaching--or at least the current semester--is taking place in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic.
I'm teaching two classes this semester, both of them in person--that is, in a classroom in which I am in the presence of students. All of us are to wear face coverings and to maintain safe physical distance. Because members of the BYU community--or let's just say, my students and I--are trying to be safe, some students are not attending in person because they've been exposed to someone who has COVID 19 or who has been exposed to someone who has. Or because they themselves are not feeling well. So far, I've usually had one of the students in my morning class attending via Zoom. (That's one student out of four in that class.) In my afternoon class, with 25 students, between 2 and 6 have been attending via Zoom. So far things are working pretty well.
Unfortunately, some at BYU have not followed the rules and have contributed to an increase in infection in the university community. Currently (as of Sunday afternoon, September 20, 2020), 911 cases of COVID 19 have been reported. Of those, 443 are active, meaning that 1% of the university community currently have COVID 19 and are supposed to be isolated. (The university community includes about 30,000 students and about 10,000 others--faculty, administrators, staff, etc.) Having analyzed the information they have, the university reports that the cases have not resulted from exposure in the classroom. They have come one of three ways: (1) exposure to someone in the same household; (2) attending a noncompliant gathering (no masks, no physical distancing); (3) someone violating isolation or quarantine instructions.
The BYU coronavirus website includes this interesting counsel:
Do not attend non-compliant gatherings, regardless of size. There have been cases as a result of gathering with just a few friends. If gathering with people who aren’t in your household, wear a mask, maintain distance and encourage others to do the same.
Rather than tell you more stories at this point, I thought I would share what I have on the COVID 19 page I include on the website for each of my class.
COVID 19 INFORMATION
On this page you'll find information and links that will help you be informed about Covid 19 and the novel coronavirus that causes it.
Principles for your protection:
-indoor vs. outdoor (outdoor is much safer, but duration and lack of distance or face covering is still a problem, even outdoors)
-distance (6-8 feet)
-duration (less than 15 minutes)
-face mask (combined with distance, gives even more protection than a vaccine)
Also (see https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/):
- Pay attention to your health
- Do not attend non-compliant gatherings, regardless of size. There have been cases as a result of gathering with just a few friends. If gathering with people who aren’t in your household, wear a mask, maintain distance and encourage others to do the same.
- Follow isolation and quarantine instructions.
BYU's coronavirus page: https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/ (this page includes the latest updates, plus links to more specific information on various matters, including:
-classes (requirements for attending, etc.): https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/academic-information
-masks (including when and where you are required to wear them): https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/face-coverings
-frequently asked questions: https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/faq
More details on mask wearing (including how to do it properly): https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/00000173-ba38-dd6c-a173-be7861960001/class-lab-mask-use-pdf (also here as an attachment: ) (and note this related article about how not to wear a mask: https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/8-common-coronavirus-mask-styles-don-t-actually-protect-against-ncna1232466 )
Classroom procedures (attachment):
"Cougars Care" checklist: https://mcusercontent.com/2ba3f012bcd865407204981a0/files/891536c5-bbe0-45c4-a188-8740052506bc/Covid_checklist_Classroom_Poster_Final.pdf (also here as an attachment: )
A couple of videos:
-An excellent brief video showing how the virus is spread and how to protect yourself and others: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6QwnzbRUyA
-Another video--from WHO, on how to break the chain of transmission (and you get to hear it with a British accent!): https://www.facebook.com/WHO/videos/304154824371969/
Request from the Utah Area Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (about wearing masks in indoor and outdoor public settings): http://view.email.churchofjesuschrist.org/?qs=45dba425c0f57eadeeab39c451558470044f8252171390e94467555d238afca03d9814e8a6aa692e2f6223be2b884e44b77a7e0a5b1c12d5485d0e8ca0486f550f36b27ebf02a773
Items you've probably already taken care of:
- Members of the campus community should self-report using this form if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are awaiting the results of a test.
- All BYU students, faculty and staff are required to complete the "Welcome Back to the Y" safety training.
- In order to come to campus and access campus services, BYU students and employees are required to download and use the Healthy Together App or complete an online or hard copy daily checkup form.
What's happening in Utah: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/
What's happening in the US: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
Projections by country and state: https://covid19.healthdata.org/global
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INTERESTING ITEMS:
"Lessons from 1918" (the "Spanish flu" at BYU): https://magazine.byu.edu/article/spanish-flu/
Evidence of the efficacy and safety of face coverings:
- BYU research: https://pws.byu.edu/covid-19-and-masks (also PDF: ) and https://pws.byu.edu/making-sense-of-the-research-on-covid-19-and-school-reopenings
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT WORTHEN (see https://www.byu.edu/coronavirus/):
For this [return to campus] to succeed, we all have to play our part. The BYU mission statement says that all relationships within the BYU community should reflect "a loving, genuine concern for the welfare of our neighbor." Certainly that can be our motivation for wearing a face covering, washing our hands often, and staying home when we're sick. We can react with empathy when someone we know tests positive for COVID-19. We can fight the virus of contempt with kindness even as we debate how to best respond as a society to the pandemic.
That genuine love for each other is what will make this year's BYU experience a remarkable period of growth for each one of us. We look forward to safely gathering soon."
Kevin J Worthen
BYU President
