A new CDC study explains the urgent need to stop the spread of …

The Center of Disease Control (CDC) recently expressed concern over the spread of COVID-19 among American young adults and also noted that colleges are contributing to that increase. The organization’s research found that an increase in positivity rates for young people aged 24 and younger would be followed a few weeks later by an increase in age 25 and younger. The study looked at 767 hotspot districts as of June and July of this year and reported that the trend was particularly true in the western and southern parts of the country. The CDC found that this increase in positivity rates in older populations will result in further hospitalizations and death.

This report was released on October 2, just weeks before the massive increase in COVID-19 cases across the country. CNN reported that daily coronavirus cases have recently hit new highs. 83,700 cases were confirmed on 29 October, the highest number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic. This goes back to data released by John Hopkins, which shows that the virus has not declined significantly in any of the states. Dr Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner for the US Food and Drug Administration, said the US is more than likely to approach 100,000 new cases a day.

These are daunting numbers, and with the general increase in cases in Sangamon County, the University of Illinois at Springfield recently revised its United Security Policy to better reflect expectations for campus meetings.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UIS faculties, employees and students should try to find creative ways to virtually connect with non-university people. Campus guests should be considered exception rather as part of general operations. A campus host is someone who is not directly connected to the university (actively employed or an active student) and attends UIS. “