By Robert Taylor
If anyone decides to visit Dominican’s Wellness Center, a mask mandate will be issued due to concerns over the surge in COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.
As the seasons change, COVID-19 numbers have increased across the country, which poses a threat to the population, according to the US Centers for Disease Control with a 10% positivity rate.
Through air and physical contact, the virus is contagious, but ways to prevent getting it includes wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, and being vaccinated.
Julia Petrella, an instruction librarian at Rebecca Crown, does not wear a mask often, but decided to wear one last week.
She said she thinks that wearing a mask is rare, but still believes it is a good way to fight back against COVID-19.
“I wore this mask because I was a little sick,” Petrella said. “At this point, I do not wear mask consistently. When COVID-19 first came out, my family was very cautious. However, I have not worn a mask despite three days of work.”
Dominican has taken precaution to make sure students are safe, which includes offering more online courses.
Michael Purcell, director of the Wellness Center, explained why people should take reasonable precautions.
“My point of view is that we should be flexible in our approach to COVID and other infectious diseases,” he said. “For instance, due to the recent uptick in COVID cases and hospitalizations, medical systems in the area reinstated mask-wearing protocols for providers and patients. This is why visitors to the Wellness Center are also required to wear masks.”
Purcell also said he is unaware if another pandemic will spread.
“My understanding is that it’s ‘when’ and not ‘if’,” he said. “Learning from our experience with COVID-19 is essential to prepare for the next one.”
If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please wear a mask and get tested immediately.
