Recent data indicates that Hempstead is one of the most affected communities in Nassau County as coronavirus cases spike in the winter months. // Photo courtesy of Nassau County Department of Information Technology
Thanksgiving has come and gone during the coronavirus pandemic and more restrictions were established in New York state in the weeks prior to the holiday, as the numbers of infections started to rise. Long Island’s seven-day average positivity rate began rising again, climbing to 3.3% as of Tuesday, Nov. 24, according to state figures.
On Nov. 11, 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new safety measures requiring restaurants, bars and bowling alleys to close their dining areas by 10 p.m. Cuomo also signed an executive order requiring New York City Public Schools to shut down due to concerns about a second wave.
“The CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] just announced that if anyone is celebrating Thanksgiving this year, there should be no more than five to 10 people [at a gathering] who have returned with negative results,” said Dr. Martine Hackett, an associate professor of public health and community health programs at Hofstra University. “However, sending students back home can be alarming if they have not gotten tested and are not sure if they are safe to visit family and friends.” In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, students should not return home, suggested Hackett.
Between the two week period of Nov. 7 and Nov. 20, Hofstra had a record of 32 positive COVID-19 cases. An email was sent to students at 11:34 p.m. on Nov. 23 from Hofstra Residence Life: “To ensure the safety of all within the residential halls, swipe card access into the residence halls will be turned off for ALL students at midnight on Nov. 30.” The email went on to apologize to students who planned to finish out the semester in the dorms.
“This is the same feeling students had when returning for the fall semester not knowing how the semester would look like,” said Ester Kaplan, a sophomore public relations major and an international student who resides on campus. “As long as students are taking the diligent measures when going out and making sure they’re getting tested before returning to campus [for the] spring, then we will definitely prevail once again.”
Hackett expressed hope that a vaccine may change the current circumstances for the University.
“Vaccine distributions will primarily be focused to frontline workers first and then to others more vulnerable to the virus, but Hofstra has been keeping in mind what a vaccine might mean for Hofstra’s campus,” Hackett said. “They are planning accordingly for the safety of students, but also to one day be able to return without the need of masks closer to [the] summer and fall of 2021.”
“My family has continued over the course of weeks to get tested for their jobs and I have done my best to do the same, especially for Thanksgiving,” said Natalia Cotto, a senior drama major who plans to spend Thanksgiving with eight of her family members. “Everyone should be getting tested before considering gathering with loved ones.” Cotto also added that she anticipates cases going down on campus now that students are returning home.
Mary Ellen Lorraine, a spokeswoman for Nassau County Department of Health, said that social gatherings are a leading factor in the spike in cases on Long Island.
“Most of what the health department sees when we contact an individual that tests positive is that [it] almost always traces back to a social event such as a large gathering – or even happy hours have been one of the main reasons for the spike we’re seeing here,” Lorraine said.
Nassau County Department of Health did not comment on what vaccine distribution might look like for Long Island until there is an official word from the state.
Cotto reflected on the COVID-19 safety guidelines that Hofstra enacted for the fall semester.
“What really raised eyebrows this semester was gatherings of any kind off campus,” Cotto said. “Ultimately, it’s the [responsibility] of students to take the right safety measures before returning home and putting others at risk.”
