The delta variant of COVID-19 continues to surge in Iowa as college students return to campus.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 cases in all of Iowa’s 99 counties are now at a “substantial level.”The CDC recommends all Iowans wear masks in public indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status, but students at Iowa State University say many fellow classmates are ignoring the recommendation.“I was the only one wearing my mask in class,” Iowa State University junior Joey Markun said. “I was kinda nervous.”Markun said his excitement for being back on campus is mixed with skepticism regarding COVID-19 safety.“I know a lot of my professors the past two classes that I had this morning talked a lot about encouraging mask-wearing and everything, but no one seemed to be wearing them or following along,” he said. “So, (I) wasn’t really sure how that’s gonna go.”Story County Board of Health Chair Dr. John Paschen said he is also wary of COVID-19 increases as students return to campus.“We’re all very worried about it,” Paschen said. “The influx of Iowa State University students almost doubles our population in the town of Ames. In the past, it’s usually been a forebearer of any increase in our COVID cases in the county.”Iowa State Students are encouraged to get vaccinated and wear masks indoors, but neither measure is required.“All these students are all together in a big lecture hall, and very few of them are wearing masks,” Paschen said. “And it forebodes that it could be concerning.”Paschen said it will take two or three weeks to see how students’ return to campus impacts COVID-19 transmission in Story County.
AMES, Iowa —
The delta variant of COVID-19 continues to surge in Iowa as college students return to campus.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 cases in all of Iowa’s 99 counties are now at a “substantial level.”
The CDC recommends all Iowans wear masks in public indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status, but students at Iowa State University say many fellow classmates are ignoring the recommendation.
“I was the only one wearing my mask in class,” Iowa State University junior Joey Markun said. “I was kinda nervous.”
Markun said his excitement for being back on campus is mixed with skepticism regarding COVID-19 safety.
“I know a lot of my professors the past two classes that I had this morning talked a lot about encouraging mask-wearing and everything, but no one seemed to be wearing them or following along,” he said. “So, (I) wasn’t really sure how that’s gonna go.”
Story County Board of Health Chair Dr. John Paschen said he is also wary of COVID-19 increases as students return to campus.
“We’re all very worried about it,” Paschen said. “The influx of Iowa State University students almost doubles our population in the town of Ames. In the past, it’s usually been a forebearer of any increase in our COVID cases in the county.”
Iowa State Students are encouraged to get vaccinated and wear masks indoors, but neither measure is required.
“All these students are all together in a big lecture hall, and very few of them are wearing masks,” Paschen said. “And it forebodes that it could be concerning.”
Paschen said it will take two or three weeks to see how students’ return to campus impacts COVID-19 transmission in Story County.