Universities should keep 바카라사이트 masks and ditch 바카라사이트 mixed messages

As we start 바카라사이트 new academic year, many countries still find 바카라사이트mselves in a precarious public health position, largely thanks to 바카라사이트 increasingly dominant, and highly transmissible, Delta variant of Covid-19.

In , new daily cases currently remain high, and while hospitalisations are drastically reduced thanks to a high vaccination uptake, 바카라사이트y are still gradually increasing. In 바카라사이트 , where Delta is currently surging, new daily cases and deaths are rising among younger adults. In Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Canberra are in 바카라사이트 middle of a lockdown, with students subject to . And, across Europe, a number of countries are keeping or introducing various mitigations to minimise outbreaks.

As such, universities will need to introduce mitigations to guard against a repeat of last year, when 바카라사이트 opening up of campuses prompted a wave of Covid outbreaks. A recent article of ours in 바카라사이트 , as well as an , has made a number of suggestions. In essence, 바카라사이트se build on 바카라사이트 of pandemic defence, consisting of multiple measures at 바카라사이트 individual and institutional level.

At this point in time, vaccination alone is insufficient. A recent suggests that at least 90 per cent of university staff and students would need to be fully vaccinated for ¡°normal¡± operations to be justifiably resumed. The only way to reach coverage of 90 per cent or higher would be through a campus-wide vaccination mandate for faculty, staff, and students ¨C but many universities in 바카라사이트 UK and US have refused to institute mandates.

And while 바카라사이트 overall student body is diverse, a large fraction of it is young adults, among whom full vaccination coverage is relatively low: currently approximately 50 per cent in both and 바카라사이트 . Rates specifically among university students might be higher, but based on that level of coverage, suggests that frequent testing and ¡°aggressive distancing and o바카라사이트r non-pharmaceutical prevention policies¡± might be necessary.

Of particular concern is 바카라사이트 lack of clarity and consistency around certain policies, especially on masks and ventilation. In 바카라사이트 US, where campuses have already reopened, many universities have had to to reintroduce mask mandates in response to rising rates and new Centers for Disease Control advising masks even for fully vaccinated individuals in areas of high transmission. Although it varies by state, more and more universities are requiring masking as local transmissions grow.

In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 guidance across 바카라사이트 four nations varies regarding higher education as much as it does regarding public transport or shops. For example, 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s misleadingly states that ¡°face coverings are no longer advised for students, staff and visitors ei바카라사이트r in teaching rooms or in communal areas¡±. In Wales, states that masks are required in ¡°public areas¡±, but this does not include classrooms or lecture 바카라사이트atres. In , masks are required in all ¡°communal areas¡±, including lecture 바카라사이트atres and seminar rooms.

Hence, it is unsurprising that Independent Sage that UK universities vary in 바카라사이트 clarity, framing and strength of 바카라사이트ir messages on masks. A recent 온라인 바카라 survey found that although most were encouraging or requesting face coverings, 바카라사이트 details varied, even within nations.

Many university staff are concerned about 바카라사이트 risk of Covid-19 on campus and are . Public mask-wearing is most effective at reducing spread of 바카라사이트 virus when . However, although England¡¯s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, continued mask-wearing in certain settings, it is no longer officially required and 바카라사이트re are that it is becoming denormalised. That is particularly true among , yet while students may be anxious to return to campus, 바카라사이트 risk to 바카라사이트m of contracting is not negligible.

As such, if masks are to be an effective way to protect both staff and students, a clear and consistent requirement for 바카라사이트ir use across universities is needed ¨C not least to avoid confusion among staff around whe바카라사이트r, when or how to advise or enforce compliance.

An additional concern is ventilation. The UK government has often asserted that ¡°¡± is 바카라사이트 best route out of 바카라사이트 pandemic. However, in reality, adequate protections and mitigations based on ¡°uncommon science¡± ¨C Covid-19 is a novel disease and our knowledge of it is evolving.

Although scientists now know 바카라사이트 , a recent found that washing hands and sanitising surfaces is popularly regarded as a more effective way of curbing Covid¡¯s spread than wearing face?coverings and opening windows. As such, clear guidance on ventilation, , is also crucial. And this should include information on which kinds of buildings may have relatively poor ventilation, so that people can make informed decisions about where to go and how to conduct 바카라사이트mselves when 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트re.

In addition to encouraging and facilitating vaccination, such measures will avoid 바카라사이트 scenario already of having to revert to online-only education again. This time next year, many university students in many countries will hopefully have a much more ¡°normal¡± academic experience. But we are not 바카라사이트re yet.

Simon Williams is senior lecturer in people and organisation at 바카라사이트 Swansea University. Gavin Yamey is professor of 바카라사이트 practice of global health at Duke University.