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Outbreak moves through heavily vaccinated nearby campus

Despite an 89% vaccination rate, Chapman University sees over 200 positive cases in first week.
Outbreak moves through heavily vaccinated nearby campus
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Courtesy

Many schools returned to in-person learning, transitioning away from virtual learning. While mask mandates at Biola University and other private institutions are in place due to the global pandemic, vaccination records are still of debate.

All University of California campuses are requiring proof of vaccination for students to gain access on campus, however, certain private universities are not mandating the vaccination. Chapman University, a top private university in California, fell fast to the risks of in-person learning in a pandemic.

Classes for Chapman students began on Aug. 30, and within the span of the week, an outbreak hit. The university reported over 200 positive coronavirus cases among students and hundreds more in isolation.

VACCINATION STATUS

According to KTLA, 437 total cases of COVID-19 were reported in Orange County, 221 of which came from Chapman’s student body. However, Chapman’s campus is 89% vaccinated.

Roughly 33% of undergraduate students are involved in Greek life. Even with a heavily vaccinated student body, students of the university suggest that maskless indoor parties and a rowdy orientation could be at fault for the outbreak.

However, given the timeframe of the outbreak, it is likely that the cause is due to gatherings in the days and weeks prior to the start of the semester, rather than in-person classes resuming.

In an interview with CNBC, infectious disease expert and RTI International Vice President of Global Health Richard Reithinger explained that the variant could be to blame for outbreaks among the vaccinated.

“The delta variant has been shown to be more transmissible than other variants, and vaccine effectiveness is slightly lower than for the alpha and beta variants,” Reithinger said.

UNIVERSITY MANDATES

According to ED Source, students at UC universities are more comfortable knowing there is a vaccine mandate. At UC Berkeley, 93% of undergraduate students showed proof of vaccination. Chapman’s vaccination population is not far off from a mandated UC school.

University of California’s system-wide President Michael Drake stands by the usage of vaccinations as defense.

“Vaccination is by far the most effective way to prevent severe disease and death after exposure to the virus and to reduce spread of the disease to those who are not able, or not yet eligible, to receive the vaccine,” Drake wrote in the letter.

BIOLA’S RESPONSE

According to Biola’s COVID-19 reporting dashboard updated on Aug. 27, there are currently three student cases and two faculty and staff cases. All positive cases are currently under self-isolation.

Face coverings are required for all students and faculty, vaccinated and unvaccinated alike, when indoors on campus. According to an email from Vice President for Student Development André Stephens, the campus is reliant on personal accountability and expects students to perform daily self-health checks.

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About the Contributor
Andi Basista
Andi Basista, News Editor
Andi Basista is a senior journalism major who loves basketball, underground music and is highly appreciative of a good beach day. [email protected]  Originally from a small farm town in Ohio, I have put aside my corn shucking gloves to embrace a new life in the Angel City to study sports journalism. It is true what they say about culture shock and LA traffic. I am used to being late to work because of getting stuck behind a John Deere tractor, but now it is because of gridlock on the I5. However, I have quickly adjusted to the city life and haven’t looked back since. I moved from the midwest out to Los Angeles over two years ago. Since then my life has changed in big ways. I have learned the importance of pursuing my dreams in order to make them a reality. Sports have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From the time I was able to stand up on my own, there was always a ball in my hand. Basketball quickly became my MO. I was involved in multiple athletic organizations, traveling on AAU teams and playing my way through my middle and high school league. My passion for the sport is what inspired me to pursue a career in sports journalism. Being at a place like Biola that has an abundance of opportunities has allowed me to expand from my small-town roots, and that is something I am truly thankful for.
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