University of Florida semester begins, many happy to return to in-person classes despite COVID-19

The hustle and bustle of the new semester, which is usually fueled by coffee

It was quiet on Monday, and thousands of people woke up in the fourth semester of the coronavirus pandemic.

Birds are singing and the wind is blowing. Most students seem to stay at home. Only a handful of people braved the cold morning to study and eat breakfast outdoors on the benches throughout the campus, while others hurried to class, wearing masks.

Julia Mohanty (Julia Mohanty) is a 19-year-old psychology student. She went outdoors with a few students and followed her belly to see the chicken Phil A. She said she only had one class this spring-chemistry. Last fall, her first semester was taught entirely online.

"I'm so excited," Mohanty said, so much so that she couldn't fall asleep on Sunday night despite taking melatonin. "The people in the class are different from those in the hall."

The freshman said that she tested negative for COVID-19 last week and hopes to meet new people in chemistry class from Tuesday to Thursday because she can already return to campus.

Mohanti said that the safety of the classroom did not worry her because of the availability of disinfectant, the requirements for masks, the bi-weekly tests for face-to-face students, and the smaller physical education ability. Learning space is her main focus.

She said that Mohanty lives on campus, and the common room in her dormitory used to be her place of study. However, she did not risk coming back when she saw a group of students chatting there last fall without wearing a mask or social distancing.

She said: "To be honest, I just avoid going back there." "I don't want to keep bothering my RA, and I see more than I want."

Mohanty from Cape Coral said her elderly father was the reason she was so careful to avoid contracting the virus. At the age of 70, he is very fragile, not only because of his age, but also because of many heart surgeries.

She said: "I have a father who has immunodeficiencies at multiple levels, so I will try to stay safe."

Mohanty said she plans to visit her parents this weekend after taking another COVID-19 exam at the university.

Two 19-year-old former sophomore nursing students, Madison Greene and Melissa Ernst, visited the physiology class in Weimer Hall on Monday morning. The Sun reported about their virus test.

Ernst said that both passed the ultrafiltration spitting test last week and were allowed to return to campus within 24 hours.

"We are negative queens," Green said with a smile.

Like Mohanty, they are not worried about the popularity of the classroom, but about the opportunity to do homework. Green said that she lives off campus with Ernst, but still needs to study at UF.

According to university spokeswoman Brittany Wise, 18,087 undergraduates and 5,700 graduate students are enrolled in or mixed courses, while 18,799 undergraduates and 6,544 graduate students are completely online, roughly divided into 50 to 50.

Hutter Lawson, a second-year student majoring in electrical engineering, said that he hopes UFIDA will offer mixed courses last semester.

He said: "We are not a high-risk group, especially for testing every two weeks."

Lawson said he was allowed to return to campus and got a negative result only an hour and a half after the test. His health concerns about COVID-19 are only for his family in Orlando, not for himself. Therefore, the 19-year-old said that he is happy to have a face-to-face class this spring.

He said: "If the professors feel safe, I will go all out."

James Sullivan, a professor of construction management, said while waiting in line for coffee on Monday morning that he has no problem teaching mixed courses this semester.

20% of his students study face-to-face and 80% online. People who visit the scene should have a certain seat spacing, and can use hand sanitizer and face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He said that the two groups studied the same materials, but the students had more fun and social opportunities together physically.

He said: "According to the guidelines, we are doing very well." "I think this is what we can do and we are still doing what we need to do."

Some professors, such as Sullivan, can indeed safely teach in person. But many people do not, and have been working hard to teach at home. according to

, The university faculty union, despite high-risk medical complications such as cancer, many professors still apply for home classes.

Other faculty and staff have complained to Twitter topics or Facebook groups on social media to teach students face to face without vaccinations.

UFIDA has listed the following online COVID-19 field prevention guidelines. Anyone on campus must wear a mask within 6 feet of others indoors and outdoors, and all students who live on campus, participate in face-to-face courses, or live and eat with Greeks must pass the university test every two weeks.

According to the university, students who test positive will switch from face-to-face classes to online classes when they are sick.

Nevertheless, the virus is still spreading. According to the university, since March 18, 2020, more than 7,000 people related to UF have tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,029 are currently in isolation

.

Now, all UF Health employees and all UF faculty and staff over 65 can vaccinate against the disease through UF Health, but the general population does not.

President Kent Fuchs wrote in a welcome email on Monday that he hopes to vaccinate all students, faculty and staff by the end of the spring semester, although no plans have been announced yet.