Howard announced new plans to get rid of their previous COVID-19 protocall. Effective immediately, in an email  to students on March 18, the school will not continue to require students to isolate themselves for 5 days if they have tested positive for COVID or if they were in close contact with someone who has. 

“This decision is made with several factors at play, including low COVID-19 case numbers within our campus community, high vaccination rates, and community prevalence of COVID-19,” Director of Student Health, Ebony Copeland said. 

Previously, when students contracted COVID-19, they had to report their status to the Student Health Center and quarantine until they didn't have any remaining symptoms. Students are now told by the university if they should test positive, they should treat it as they would any other infection, similar to how they would the flu.

Howard’s dissolution of the required isolation marks the end of the university's transition from COVID-19. Since 2022, the school has been leaning away from its strict COVID-19 precaution measures by canceling mandatory weekly testing, making mask wearing optional, and reducing the amount of testing sites. 

Other universities in the area are taking a similar approach. Georgetown University asks students to remain home if they are feeling unwell, and George Washington University, similarly to Howard, isn't requiring students to self isolate any longer.

Howard’s email comes a few weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their guide for treating respiratory illnesses, which does include COVID-19. They now recommend for those who feel sick to stay home for 24 hours until their symptoms are both better and their fever breaks. When coming back into the public, some additional precautions recommended by the CDC include wearing masks, social distancing, and trying methods to clean the air (e.g., opening a window or using fans) over a 5 day period.  This update serves as a huge win for the CDC, signaling a comeback for American society post COVID.  

“We still must use the common sense solutions we know work to protect ourselves and others from serious illness from respiratory viruses – this includes vaccination, treatment, and staying home when we get sick,” says CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen says in a written statement.

With the intense safety measures of COVID beginning to fade, so is the fear many associated with the virus. 

According to a study from the  Pew Research Center, only 20% of Americans view the coronavirus  as a major threat to the health of the U.S. population today and only 10% are very concerned they will get it and require hospitalization. 

For those who are more susceptible to viruses and easily fall sick, the end of COVID isolation means less protections in place for students and faculty.

Although the U.S. is still seeing high rates of COVID-19 transmissions, hospitalization and deaths have declined greatly. The country has seen a 60% decrease in COVID-19 related hospital admissions since 2021. This is largely due to the high rates of vaccinations. In D.C alone, 91% of the population is vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Now, Americans 65 or older have access to a new booster shot.  This shot is an additional dose of the previous COVID vaccine from last fall. With the isolation measures loosening on campus, this gives older Howard faculty an extra precaution. 

For those who don't qualify, the experts urge the public to continue practicing good COVID safety. 

Dean Blumburg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Children’s Hospital says,“get your vaccines, mask in crowded situations, take a COVID test if you might be sick, and get antiviral treatment if you test positive.” He continues, “I recommend Paxlovid for COVID and Tamiflu for influenza; both will shorten how long you’re sick, and Paxlovid reduces your risk of severe disease and long COVID.”

The vaccine will be available at drug stores like Rite- Aid and Walgreens and will be rolled out through health care providers.