BY ABBY CAMPBELL
It has been a year and seven months since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic worldwide.
A year and seven months for people to organize COVID related policies such as weekly testing, contact tracing, and quarantining.
Stonehill College has been taking its own measures to protect against the virus while keeping a close eye on the number of positive cases weekly.
Tom Flynn, Vice-President and General Counsel at Stonehill, said many people are involved in making policy on the issue, noting they meet weekly with medical experts about COVID-19 policies.
“Fr. John approves protocol recommendations after consulting internal and external medical advisors. These campus partners include Director of Health Services Maria Sullivan, Director of the COVID Testing Center Monique Avila and Dr. Michael Myers, our consulting physician for COVID response,” said Flynn in an email.
Flynn said efforts have included working with the team of medical experts, local and state health officials, and even colleagues at other schools in the area.
Flynn attests the low number of positive cases to everyone on campus doing their part.
According to Flynn, residence life staff members told him that despite the restrictions, students “always react in a positive manner.”
Flynn said that Stonehill has not seen any relationship between campus weekend nightlife and positive cases. He also said that restricting the number to people allowed in residence hall common rooms has made a significant difference.
With the unpredictability of the pandemic, Flynn said that the possibility of loosening COVID protocols like weekly testing and dorm size capacity restrictions is still undetermined at this time.
“We constantly monitor federal and state guidance. We always discuss protocol changes,” Flynn said.
When creating a safe environment on campus, Flynn said there are a couple of things Stonehill leadership keeps in mind.
“The College’s mission to create a strong community of scholarship and faith has always informed our response,” Flynn said.
In the meantime, Flynn said he encourages students to keep wearing masks, getting their flu shots, and communicating with Health Services if they develop symptoms to lessen the spread of any illness around campus.
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