Cases surge in the system, UH Hilo cancels first three weeks of in-person classes

By Lichen Forster

In-person classes at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo (UH Hilo) were shifted online for the first three weeks of the spring semester, a decision influenced by surges in COVID-19 cases and quarantine requirements for students returning to campus. A Dec. 28 email from university chancellor Bonnie Irwin announced the movement of in-person classes online, excluding those that the instructor felt required in-person learning (namely, many laboratory courses.) University of Hawaiʻi (UH) President David Lassner sent out a system-wide email on the same day with the same announcement.

Lassner’s email focused on the high case numbers sweeping the nation due to the Omicron variant. The surge had also reached UH. 49 new cases were reported on the UH Hilo campus in the 14 days leading up to press time for this publication. In comparison, nine new campus cases were reported in the 14 days leading up to press time for Ke Kalahea’s September 2021 issue. UH Hilo has reported 127 total cases since April 2, 2020. The UH system at large has seen 132 cases in the 14 days leading up to press time, contributing to a total of 482.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the omicron variant was detected in most U.S. states and territories by Dec. 21, 2021. Given the lack of time-tested data, officials are hesitant to make definitive statements about the variant, but the CDC says it is likely more contagious than the original virus.

In Norway, an office Christmas party held on Nov. 26 resulted in over half of attendees testing positive for COVID-19. All attendees were fully vaccinated at the time of the party and reported negative results to a rapid antigen test prior to attending, according to an article published in Science Norway. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health reported that as of Dec. 8, most of the cases were predicted to be the omicron variant, though sequencing results were still out.

Vaccines are expected to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and death resulting from the contraction of omicron. For more information on the omicron variant, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/.

In Chancellor Irwin’s email, she accredited UH Hilo’s participation in a Jan. 24 in-person start date “primarily because of our concern for our students as they return to campus.” As Irwin further explained, students who test positive either over break or upon returning to the island would be required to quarantine and subsequently miss the first week of in-person classes.

According to Interim Vice Chancellor of Administrative Affairs Kaleihiʻiikapoli Rapoza, 40 in-person classes at UH Hilo proceeded with their modality.

On Jan. 18, another system-wide email from President Lassner announced the push-back of in-person classes another week, making the new start date Jan. 31, saying, “We do not expect to revisit the January 31 restart date, which is consistent with many other higher education institutions.” At press time, the start date for in-person classes was slated to be Jan. 31.

Campus Center, which UH Hilo’s Chartered Student Organizations (CSOs) are under, and who hosts Vulcan ʻOhana Welcome Week at the start of every semester, made similar changes to its event planning. It pushed back Welcome Week to Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, and encouraged CSO leaders to rethink any in-person activities planned for the first three weeks of the semester in emails sent throughout the break.

New vaccination requirements accompany the new semester, making it necessary for all individuals coming to campus to provide proof of vaccination or a medical/religious exemption. Those providing the latter must provide a weekly negative test.

UH contracts the Clinical Labs of Hawaiʻi to give unvaccinated students and employees in the UH system free PCR tests. PCR tests show negative results valid for seven days, and are the only UH-approved test.

Individuals who opt for the vaccine route must be fully vaccinated, meaning two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, or one dose of Johnson&Johnson. While university officials have been recommending individuals get a booster shot as well, there are no requirements for it yet.

“This is under discussion at the university system level,” Rapoza said. “...Not everyone was happy with the vaccination requirement, but there was a lot of notice to the UH Community about this requirement in the fall semester, so it was not a surprise. I think most people understand the rationale behind it, and we have high compliance with both students and employees.”

For more information on UH’s vaccination policy, visit https://hilo.hawaii.edu/covid19/.