Today marks the end of what many have considered to be the first year of a “return to normalcy” after years of distance learning, mask mandates, and social distancing. With the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11th and the district downgrading mask requirements from “strongly recommended” to “optional,” it’s easy to believe that the pandemic is now behind us.
However, the most recent national data from May 15th, indicates that there are still around 12,324 hospitalized COVID patients, 11,962 more than there were when the District closed schools in March 2020 and 7,072 more than when they announced that schools would remain closed for the rest of the year. Despite a decline in COVID testing, there were still eight reported cases throughout the District during the week of May 16th.
The pandemic has also left other marks on our daily lives. There are still a couple students in each class who continue to wear masks and signs around campus urging students to socially distance or to use hand sanitizer. While the pandemic may seem like it’s finally over, its remains are still all around us.
