"Main Street Plague"
Writers: Emilia Kniestedt, Hannah Park, Anna Kim, Lauren Kim, William Hackett, Elina Yang
As the leaves on the Academy Lawn turn bright red and orange, Exonians find themselves bundled up in anticipation of winter months. However, along with the chilly winds and cooler temperatures come an influx of coughs, runny noses, and sore throats.
Large numbers of the student and faculty body reporting flu-like symptoms have overwhelmed the Lamont Health and Wellness Center.
Most students undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID test, strep test, and flu test upon their arrival to the center. Because students are kept at the center while awaiting results, visits have lasted up to 12 hours, leading to missed classes, sports, and general frustration.
Students also began calling the sickness the “Main Street Plague,” in reference to speculations on the origin of the outbreak.
Faculty and students expressed concerns about students interacting unmasked. History Instructor Diana Richardson, who experienced the sickness, shared, “I’ve had too many students come to class sick, which is resulting in spread to others. If we all keep away from one another when we are sick and wear masks and wash our hands – we can be safer.”
Richardson recommended that all students take precautions when experiencing sickness. “Students should absolutely go to the health center and be evaluated/tested when they first experience any cold/flu symptoms and then wear masks until their symptoms are gone,” Richardson said.
Richardson also suggested an adjustment to the Academy’s current way of managing the sickness going around. “I don’t feel unsafe regarding COVID as most of us are vaccinated, but I think that a better plan for dealing with colds/flus is in order. It’s really disruptive for me and/or students to miss a whole day or two of class for every sneeze and sniffle,” Richardson said.
Some felt like the Academy’s response did not consider students’ mental health. “The Academy seems to value our mental health and understand the stress of our workload only during the peak of the pandemic, but as we return to normal, they seem to be reverting back to old bad habits in which they don’t [fully and explicitly] acknowledge the stress and anxiety their workload and behaviors in general create, and I believe this lack of understanding has been revealed during this Main Street plague,” upper Drew Smith said.
Student efforts to report to the Health Center and masking in class and public spaces have not gone unnoticed. Main Street Dorm Head and English Instructor Tyler Caldwell spoke specifically about the students in Main Street Hall. “The Main Street students went to the Health Center to get tested even when they knew they would be stuck there for a day or two. Good for them for being proactive and thoughtful, considerate members of our community,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell added that he would prefer this sickness to not be called the “Main Street Plague,” explaining, “I understand some of this may be in jest and I understand that some kids in Main Street might have even participated in naming it, but I don’t think it is helpful to label the cold in that way.”
Caldwell added, “When else have we seen people point, whether casually, jokingly, or seriously, to other groups of people as the source of a sickness? And how do we think people from that ‘ill’ group might feel?”
Some students expected the sickness to come. “I think with the masks coming off, it was bound to happen sooner or later,” lower Will Soh said.
Students also expressed concern over the lack of protection against the sickness. “It is a bit unsettling knowing how the cold is spreading so rapidly, yet there is not much I can do besides maintain distance from those who are ill and wear a mask around others, especially if I start receiving symptoms,” prep Emily Chai-Onn said.
Others suggested extra restrictions to manage the sickness’s spread. Prep Soleil Jamani said, “If cases begin to rise, I think we may have to bring back the mask mandate and start having people get the booster shot if they are eligible.”
Chai-Onn also believed the school would benefit from more recorded statistics on the spreading sickness. “I think that the school needs to be more conscious of cases, how much students are exposed in town, as well as the amount of outside exposure day students experience.”
Senior Will Carney appreciated the Academy's efforts to combat the sickness. “It’s a natural thing that happens every year at every school,” Carney said. “I think the school is doing enough. They’re doing what's expected and following CDC guidelines and New Hampshire state guidelines.”
Upper Jayson Tung said, “I think the correct measures are in place right now, because I don’t want to go back to the old rules and I think they’re unnecessary for this ‘plague’.”
Richardson emphasized the need to take care of oneself and other members of the community. “I think we all could use the reminder that we are all still living in a pandemic and need to be cautious. Masking and keeping our distance is not fun, but we should do it when we aren’t feeling well for the greater good of the community,” Richardson said.
Now that fall is settling in and the weather is getting colder, students are beginning to get sick (especially seniors). (Not COVID, but things like the common cold...) Not to mention, students have just received their flu shot as well. Should students be required to mask if they show signs of sickness? The Health Center also has a policy where they'll keep students quarantined until their PCR tests come back negative, a process which usually takes 12+ hours and causes people to miss classes. Get lots of opinions from students and faculty on campus.
