Is COVID Over? Or do we just want it to be…

Genevieve Feeney
Contributing Writer

Since UMF’s return to in-person learning during the pandemic in the fall of 2020, the University has provided students and staff with mandatory asymptomatic testing. As the pandemic wore on, the testing was made optional and only mandatory at certain times. At the beginning of this fall 2022 semester, UMF’s asymptomatic testing option became obsolete. UMF chief business officer and incident commander for COVID on campus Laurie Gardner shares insight into why the University of Maine system eliminated this option.

“The system decided that there would be no more asymptomatic testing based on the science advisory board for the system that analyzes what’s going on with COVID-19 and how it is shifting. Asymptomatic was stopped due to the science and the requirement of all students being fully vaccinated for the fall semester,” Gardner said.

When asked if she agreed with the disposal, Gardner said, “I think based on what we saw; we were okay. Even with the Farmington greater community. Our numbers were low based on hospitalizations and ventilators; of course, there are still restrictions in place.”

But how do students feel about this matter? UMF senior and prior asymptomatic testing service employee Ryan Macdonald shared his opinion:

“I don’t think that they should have eliminated it. A perfect example is that I got COVID the first week I was here. When I was doing training, they said they were eliminating it all, and I thought, ‘Wow, people are going to be going into class with COVID.’ You don’t show symptoms right away. I didn’t start feeling it until the first week of classes, and I used my common sense. I am worried about it. Having that safety net of going in without an appointment.”

Despite the lack of asymptomatic testing on campus this semester, there are still rapid tests provided through the health center. However, Macdonald doesn’t feel the rapid tests are suitable substitutes.

“They detect you after you are already showing symptoms and spreading. For those who were showing symptoms and showed up to the testing center, we had rapid tests for them to confirm. We need human decency, and we need free COVID testing. They have put COVID tests in the CAs office, which is good. But do you want to wake up a CA and possibly expose others to COVID?” he said.

With the question still standing on whether UMF should offer asymptomatic testing this semester, Gardner shared:

“I am torn whether it be mandatory or not again. It is another tool in the toolbox to keep the community safe. But, recognize that we need to give folks the option as well,” she said. “It would have to do with the numbers around us in the community. Even last year, we would require it some weeks for ‘enhanced asymptomatic testing,’ and some weeks it was just an option. It would be whatever we need to do to keep the community safe.”

Although, at this point, UMF has decided that asymptomatic testing is not necessary, what about the quarantine dorm?

“We needed to move students from Lockwood to Dakin for maintenance. It is a challenge without having one available, but communication went out ahead of time, asking students to plan for no quarantine dorm. And we still have a few rooms available, plus even with Dakin, many students opted to go home anyways,” said Gardner.

Macdonald shares that, “Quarantine dorms were massively helpful because people had the option. We don’t know what people’s lives are like. The school said that they have a few quarantine spaces, but not a lot if we were to have a rise in cases,” he said. Macdonald continued to share how every student has a different life experience and quarantining at home is not an option for everyone.

Overall, the question remains whether the University of Maine system made the right decision in discarding asymptomatic testing for students and staff. There are still some masking requirements on campus such as in offices and classrooms upon professor request, or if the five day quarantine window is over but symptoms are still present. Rapid tests are still available, and there are still spaces for on-campus quarantine. The COVID levels are not being tracked as accurately anymore due to the popularized rapid at home testing option. However, people are still testing positive and self-quarantining. The seven day weekly average for COVID in Maine still stands around 200 individuals week to week being reported. If there are any concerns or confusion about any of the COVID guidelines, maine.edu/together provides information on this topic.