Within the past couple of months, Barrington High School has been flooded with various illnesses, but most surprisingly: COVID. This is the first full school year back with no masks or COVID protocol. Interestingly enough, within BHS there has been a significant surge in cases.
About a month ago, many students received one or more close contact notices which displays the amount of Covid cases starting up again. Close contact gatherings, sport teams, and failure to abide by COVID protocols are causing the cases to get worse and worse.
Despite the assumption that COVID protocols are loosened, they are not. Those who test positive still have to quarantine for 5 days and can return on day 6 if they are negative. But even then, they have to mask until they reach day 10. Many students do not follow this which is why the cases are heightened.
According to BHS Nurse Mrs. Tammy Lafreniere, there has been 25 total cases for the month of November in addition to a plethora of cold and flu cases.
There is a very abnormal amount of Covid cases and illness in the school compared to other years. Due to the fact that masks are no longer mandated, the number of illnesses has been higher than usual.
Because the students finally are back in school with no masks protecting them, our immune systems naturally become worse.
The only way to get back to a normal immune system is to allow ourselves and everyone to get sick. There is unfortunately no way to fully resolve the COVID cases.
The variant that is going around is not deadly, and according to the Harvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health, “The U.S. is going to see a winter surge in COVID infections,” predicted William Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology. “And I think that if nothing else changes BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are likely to be very significant players.”
As expected, the flu season brought upon many cases of COVID around the country. The main thing that students and faculty can do is test frequently when exposed and follow proper COVID protocol.
To conclude, make an effort to not come in close contact with someone who was exposed to the virus to keep you and others around you safe during this infectious season.