This fall marks the first maskless semester at St. Thomas since March 2020. While the requirement to wear masks in classrooms and indoor public spaces has been removed, the Center for Well-Being remains focused on COVID-19 prevention and response.

Despite COVID-19 cases dropping at St. Thomas, there are still a low number of cases being reported each week. There were 15 new COVID-19 cases for the week of Oct. 14 reported to the university’s website.

“If a student tests positive, they report that,” Melanie Tucker, director of health promotion, resilience, and violence protection at the Center for Well-Being, said. “We will follow up with them and provide them with information on how to isolate safely.”

The Center for Well-Being provides take-home COVID-19 tests, scheduled rapid tests and vaccine appointments, offering the Moderna vaccine and the new bi-valent booster shot. The new booster shot combats the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Despite the persistence of COVID-19, Tucker does not currently foresee a mask requirement being reinstated on campus.

“It’d be a number of things that came into place … but I certainly hope not,” Tucker said. “If things continue the way we are now, I don’t see that the university would reinstate that.”

Faculty are encouraged to communicate any COVID-19 situation related to class with their students.

“My teachers have said that if there is a COVID case in our class, or they were in close contact that we would be informed of it,” sophomore Ryan Reed said. “They’re staying on top of it pretty well.”

By collecting the student’s schedule, the Center for Well-Being will notify each student’s professors. This has been protocol for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

“I know that if people get COVID, there is policy in place to avoid the spread of it,” Reed said.

If needed, students and faculty can ask the Center for Well-Being for guidance when navigating a COVID-19-related issue. According to Reed, professors have been providing students more options amid COVID-19 complications, making the classroom less stressful for students.

“I think it’s easier for teachers to communicate and easier for office hours. And I think everyone was more approachable this year,” Reed said. “(It) just feels more free and everything’s returning back to normal.”

Joe LaPorte can be reached at lapo7605@stthomas.edu