(Photo courtesy of: Time) “Many students are still adjusting to the changes COVID-19 has caused on campus.”

Colin D. McGovern
Connector Contributor

This period at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024 will mark the fourth year of living with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic has yet to conclude completely, a routine glance around the streets will show that there are noticeably fewer precautions being taken by the public compared to the earlier stages in response to COVID-19.

So, this begs the question: in the mind of the average person, is COVID-19 finished? To answer this question, The Connector interviewed UMass Lowell students for their perspectives on the matter.

When asked about how they felt at the height of the pandemic (during 2020 – 2021), students gave mixed responses.

Adrian Monsalve—in the Army at the time—felt that the shutdowns were a nice break from his obligations. When asked if he was worried or concerned, Monsalve said, “Nah. I was like, ‘If I get it, I get it; if I don’t, I don’t.’

Alternatively, Jake Hogan’s initial reaction to the pandemic was not so nonchalant. “It was definitely a little scary because I have family members who are high-risk,” he said. “So, even though I’m not a high-risk person, the worry that I’d pass it on to other family members was concerning — definitely.”

Lastly, Angelos Boules described how he was in the same boat as many people at first — staying at home to follow the shutdown protocols — for the earlier part of 2020. But he then clarified, saying, “…Later down the year, when conditions started to ease (the lockdowns) and you could go out with masks, I was one of the first people to go out. But then, by the end of 2021, I was over it.”

However, it has been enough time since the pandemic began that most people — even those who were most cautious during the initial phases of the pandemic — have had their concerns relaxed by various degrees.

When asked if COVID is a current concern for him, Monsalve said, “No, not at all.” Additionally, he clarified his current regard for the pandemic, stating, “In some sense, I feel like it doesn’t matter anymore because whatever happened, and the implications of all that have already been implemented in the way we function as a society now. To me, it’s like, ‘What can I do about it?’ It is what it is. I don’t like the things that came from it, but, again, there’s not much I can really do.”

While making it clear that the pandemic was still important enough to keep an eye on, Jake Hogan also said, “I wouldn’t say I’m aware of it; I wouldn’t say I’m concerned a lot,” in response to the question of whether COVID-19 was a current concern for him.

Boules summarized in explaining that he now views COVID-19 as something that is not much worse than a common cold. When questioned if he sees COVID-19 as a current concern, he said, “No, I wouldn’t say that. Maybe, if I get COVID, I’d warn my friends and anybody I’d be around just for their sake, but, personally, I wouldn’t mind.” Doctor Wenjun Li — Director of the Department of Public Health at UMass Lowell — made it clear that COVID is still a very real issue, despite public attitude.

When questioned on whether the earlier precautions for COVID-19 should still be maintained, Li answered, “Well, I think COVID is pretty much like a flu now.” He went on to clarify this statement by saying, “…Taking the vaccine is certainly necessary, and all of us should do it if medically permitted. Again, there is low extra-precaution necessary at this moment. Just be a good citizen; wash your hands, and if you don’t feel comfortable wearing masks, then just be careful. If we feel sick, we take the extra precautions for it.”

In answering more directly on whether COVID-19 should be a conscious concern, Li said, “Of course. COVID is still overwhelmingly the biggest populous challenge right now. […]We should be aware of it, and we should be taking precautions about our behaviors in how we act as a people. Again: if people get sick, get treatment or do necessary isolation. And, it is very important for us to get the vaccine; that will really slow down the transmission of the disease, and it will also reduce impact just in case you’re infected.”

Although there is some debate on how alert one should be regarding contracting COVID-19, it is clear that precautions such as mandatory masking and social-distancing are no longer necessary in non-medical environments. However, regardless of public or personal opinion, it is always a safe and healthy practice to maintain hygiene and to self-isolate in case of illness.