Whether universities should open depends on community transmission

Throughout the summer of 2020, the pros and cons have been weighed as to whether or not students should be able to return to college campuses for the Fall semester. Though the risk is high for many areas such as California and Florida, there are several areas where the number of COVID-19 outbreaks have decreased. For the areas where there is a lower risk of contracting the virus, colleges and universities should be allowed to attend classes in-person. As long as students and faculty follow the social distancing guidelines, such as keeping a six foot distance between students, and the mandatory use of face coverings, the risk of spreading COVID-19 is less likely. Experts have also stressed that screening and testing students for COVID-19 prior to entering campuses is strongly advised. Students traveling from a high risk area to a college that is located in a low risk area should quarantine for at least 14 days prior to attending classes. For example, as of June 25th, 2020, a travel advisory for New York City was issued, saying that if you have traveled to New York from one of the states with significant community spread, you are required to quarantine for 14 days once you enter the state. ^[1] As for colleges that are located in high risk areas, attending classes in person should be put on hold and wait for the number of cases to go down in that area. Colleges and universities should continue with their plans for virtual learning, and to avoid college campuses in areas that have a higher risk. ^[2] Experts state that if college students return in the Fall, and the number of COVID-19 cases increases due to student interactions, the school should have an emergency plan to shut down again. If testing shows that cases have not increased, colleges and universities should remain open for in-class learning.