Covid cases spike in the fall semester

Covid-19 cases have spiked in the 2021 fall semester but are now declining according to school numbers. 

As of October 21, North Idaho college has 152 known student cases of Covid-19 and 47 faculty cases. NIC’s covid dashboard shows both weekly positive cases as well as cases managed, a number defined by both case and symptom management among staff and students. True case numbers are not entirely known as not every exposure and sickness is reported to the school. Alex Harris, covid director at North Idaho college, that “NIC is a reflection of our community. . .some people will not report if they’re exposed, especially if they don’t have any symptoms.” 

Covid-19 numbers  at the institution generally follow that of the Coeur d’Alene locality and when compared graphically, mimic the peaks and troughs of the greater community. Standing next to last year’s numbers, though, our cases have gone up considerably. “Last year we had classes at half capacity. . .This year we don’t have that” said Harris. “We’re still following CDC guidelines as far as exposure [goes but] I know the number of quarantines is definitely going to go up.” 

Policy change and expectations of lower case numbers could influence cases in the 2021/2022 academic year. “The CDC shows that wearing masks reduces the amount of transmissions and not requiring masks definitely, if you look at the numbers, if you look at what the CDC says it’s going to have an effect,” said Harris. 

Earlier this year the Board of Trustees elected to remove the mask mandate. Previous president of North Idaho College, Rick MacLennan, released a statement following this decision sharing his concerns for the coming future. “Without [the mask mandate], we are likely to face some daunting challenges in the coming days and weeks as the COVID-19 delta variant continues to spread throughout our region.” said MacLennan. 

Harris implores students to seek out resources the campus offers regarding coronavirus. “People not dismissing their symptoms as a cold or an allergy, would definitely reduce [cases].” NIC also offers vaccination clinics on campus through panhandle health. “If people are comfortable getting the vaccination, that reduces their chance of contracting covid.” If you are exposed and experience no symptoms you do not have to quarantine if you are vaccinated. The school also offers free Covid tests that can be found outside of Siebert Hall. 

The school has had two students transferred to the ER for Covid-related symptoms from the residence hall but both were short stays. 

Although the school’s Covid numbers are up from the 2020/2021 semesters, cases have already peaked and we may be seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. “From the onset of covid, from our employees not knowing how to deal with the pandemic . . . as an institution we’ve really pulled together to manage something that is normally managed by public health officials,” said Harris, “We have a responsibility to [limit the number of students and faculty that get sick] and I think we’ve responded really well.”