Inside Higher Ed reports on colleges facing the question of how to start their semesters in January with the Omicron variant’s arrival. The Omicron variant has now become the dominant strain of the virus, SARS-CoV-2. Many institutions are shifting their academic calendars – some starting their semesters online and others continuing with their original plans. The article lists various colleges’ announcements and plans to return to campus. Peter McDonough, vice president and general counsel of the American Council on Education, says more higher education leaders are thinking about “how we live in the COVID era,” as opposed to viewing this time as something that will pass.
The Chronicle’s Live Coronavirus Updates report on some universities now requiring more protective face coverings in place of cloth masks. On Monday, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans announced that a KN95 or N95 mask would be required for its campus, due to the Omicron variant. Julio Figueroa, chief of infectious diseases at Louisiana State’s School of Medicine, said, “With Omicron it appears that the contagion plus the aerosol aspect is very similar to measles and therefore requires this higher-level mask.” Figueroa added that cloth and surgical masks were less effective in mitigating the spread of the Omicron variant.
Inside Higher Ed reports on scholarly associations moving forward with in-person conferences and annual gatherings with extra safety precautions and other options for participation. Over the holiday break, a number of academic associations consulted on whether to proceed with their scheduled events in early 2022, due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. The Modern Language Association and the American Historical Association are still planning to meet this week. The Association of American Colleges and Universities will meet in person in later January, as will the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in early February.