For many ‘22s and ‘23s on campus, this summer has been one to remember. After a year of isolation and fear, largely exacerbated by the Dartmouth administration’s excessively harsh COVID-19 policies, students have finally been able to celebrate a return to normalcy as most pandemic restrictions have been lifted. Earlier spring reports from The Review and other campus publications detailed students’ determination to get vaccinated, and current numbers confirm their due diligence: to date, over 94% of undergraduates have been immunized. This term’s combination of low case counts, despite few restrictions, initially spurred community optimism for a successful fall term. Nevertheless, it has recently become apparent that major figures in the Hanover and Dartmouth community are unwilling to relinquish the power they gained from the pandemic.
After suspending its mask mandate in mid-June, on August 3, the Hanover Selectboard unanimously voted to revive the mandate in all indoor town spaces. The following morning, the College’s Interim Provost, David Kotz extended the order to apply to the Dartmouth campus. These decisions mirror the CDC’s new recommendations for universal indoor mask wearing in communities experiencing ‘substantial’ transmission — at least 50 cases per 100,000 residents. Amidst the surging Delta variant, one might feel inclined to support these new COVID restrictions; however, the data reveal a drastically different picture.
Particular worry emerges from ‘breakthrough infections’ among those who are fully vaccinated. A major impetus behind the CDC flip flop on indoor mask mandates — a sharp reversal from the agency’s May recommendation that masks be optional for vaccinated individuals — was a July study from Barnstable County, Massachusetts, where 74% of the recorded 469 COVID cases occurred among those fully vaccinated. Despite this alarming figure that appears to erode confidence in vaccine effectiveness, the study also reveals that only four of these breakthrough patients required hospitalization and zero died — a testament to vaccine efficacy.
Nationwide data also confirm that breakthrough infections are not driving case surges. Among the 25 states that actively record breakthrough infections, 19 show the fully vaccinated to comprise fewer than 2% of total cases. While New Hampshire does not record breakthrough cases, it does register breakthrough hospitalizations, and fully vaccinated individuals only constitute 0.5% of COVID hospitalizations according to the New York Times. Vaccines are still effective; unfortunately, the mixed messaging and revamped restrictions likely undermine trust among the vaccine hesitant, while imposing unnecessary inconveniences on those who are vaccinated.
Understanding the protection afforded by living in such a highly vaccinated community, Dartmouth students have shown little interest in complying with the new mask policies; a simple stroll through the Baker Berry Library reveals that. At the moment, the mandate is only rigidly enforced in Foco (Class of 53 Commons Dining Hall). There, one member of the Class of 2023, who asked not to be named, refused to adhere to the mandate at the dining hall, only to have Campus Safety & Security arrive to threaten them into compliance.
Instead of levying mask mandates, perhaps the Town of Hanover and Dartmouth College could more effectively curb COVID transmission by encouraging vaccination in the surrounding community. Despite being chastised as irresponsible by Town Manager Julia Griffin for the majority of the previous year, Dartmouth students boast a much higher vaccination rate of 94%, compared to the town’s measly 67% vaccination rate.
At the moment, there are three active student cases on campus — with no indication of any ensuing outbreak. One might question the significance of three cases given vaccinated individuals who do contract COVID typically exhibit only mild to moderate symptoms. Unfortunately, that concern doesn’t seem to be addressed by those in power to mandate rules, as case counts continue to drive public health actions.
Due to the science of vaccine efficacy, impressively high student vaccination rates, and a successful summer with minimal COVID thus far, the majority of Dartmouth students reject the mask mandate and worry that it may spur the reinstatement of broader COVID-19 restrictions. As rational decisions are unlikely, we should continue to hold the College accountable for its flawed COVID policies and encourage others to do the same.
Perhaps while at college students can learn civil responsibility and perhaps to care for more them themselves.