Students’ perspectives on COVID-19
It has been two weeks since the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley began instruction on campuses. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and while many students feel overall safe, they have some safety concerns.
According to UTRGV’s Welcome Back webpage, which has several COVID-19 safety resources. As of Sept. 2, there were 26 confirmed COVID-19 at UTRGV. However the university cannot require students to wear masks because Gov. Greg Abbott forbade public schools from requiring masks on May 21. Instead, UTRGV welcomed its students on Aug. 23, strongly recommending that the university community practice social distancing and wear face masks.
Nevertheless, Desirae Gonzalez, a freshman nursing major, said she enjoys being on campus because she thinks UTRGV is doing its best to keep students safe by implementing a number of safety precautions.
According to the webpage, one of those precautions includes the increase of outdoor air. Opening outdoor air dampers to maximum allowable settings reduces or eliminates heating, ventilation and air conditioning air recirculation.
The webpage also said that the university is focused on cleaning all high-contact public spaces and surfaces, like entrance door handles, doorknobs, light switches, counters, faucets, etc. Additionally, disinfectant wipes should be available for each academic space to clean the personal area.
However, Gonzalez said she would feel safer if the university mandated social distancing on campus.
“I feel like it would be safer for everybody if they just did that ,” Gonzalez said. “People have their friends and stuff but then their friends go see … other people. So, it’s just safer to keep a distance.”
To encourage safety, UTRGV also implemented the UTRGV Student Vaccine Incentive, an online portal where students update their vaccination status. The university offered $100 to students who completed their online vaccine portal and enrolled in 2021 Fall semester classes. However, the last day to complete these requirements was on Jul. 14, 2021.
Joana Bernal, freshman theater major, said she always wears a face mask to stay safe. Bernal also avoids crowded areas when she is going to eat because a lot of students fail to maintain social distance.
“Whenever I’m about to eat, I go outside. I don’t go inside the cafeteria because it’s crowded there,” she said. “I stay outside with some friends and we eat there.”
Bernal said she thinks UTRGV is doing a good job at carrying out safety measures because some professors moved their classes online. She said she feels safe seeing that many students and professors wear face masks and are vaccinated.
Additionally, Damian Ceron, a senior criminal justice major, said for the most part, he feels safe at UTRGV. Ceron said everyone in his class wears face masks and keeps their distance. The only time he does not feel safe is when he is walking around campus, because he sees students without masks.
“I understand they have the vaccine and everything, but I would appreciate it if they had the mask on,” Ceron said. “I think it would just help out and make other people feel safe, and it would also prevent more spread of the disease.”
According to an UTRGV safety flyer, UTRGV recommends students conduct a daily self-screening, prior to visiting any UTRGV campus or off-campus facilities. All students and employees must review the current version of the COVID-19 Daily Self-Screening questions regarding COVID-19-related symptoms. Questions include if the individual has measured a temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, feeling of fevers or chills, or if they have been in close contact with an infected person.
If any student or staff exhibits any COVID-19-related symptoms, it is strongly recommended that the person should not come to campus. Students should notify their instructors or supervisor and complete the Preliminary COVID-19 Screening Form.
For more information regarding UTRGV COVID-19 protocols visit https://www.utrgv.edu/commitment/info/protocols/hvac/index.htm.
