According to the Big Ten football schedule, MSU is set to play the University of Michigan Oct. 31. With the Ann Arbor campus’ shelter in place order in effect at the same time as a Halloween evening game, Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail said it may be challenging to keep gatherings in check.
A group of 12 mayors from several Big Ten school communities — including East Lansing Mayor Aaron Stephens and Lansing Mayor Andy Schor — signed a letter to Big Ten Conference officials requesting practical measures to ensure safety from COVID-19 as the beginning of football season nears.
East Lansing residents can still enjoy a safe and happy Halloween amid the COVID-19 pandemic with some creative and interesting activities suggested by the health officials.
Since June 15, Michigan State athletics has an approximate positivity rate of 5.8%.
The app works by assigning those who have tested positive for COVID-19 a code that allows them to anonymously share that they have tested positive. The app then uses Bluetooth to detect nearby phones that also have the app, and if for 15 minutes, a user is within six feet of someone that has tested positive, the user will get a notification.
With a green light by public health officials, East Lansing will not cancel trick-or-treating, but guidelines are in-place to enforce social distancing.
"In the meantime, MSU will continue to deliver on its core mission as an inclusive community with strong academic disciplines and a liberal arts foundation," President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. said in an email. "Despite our challenges, we will continue providing a world-class education, conducting high-caliber research and advancing outreach and engagement locally and globally."
The decision was made based on the health and safety of Spartans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, MSUPD officers will strictly enforce University Ordinance 21.03.
The council unanimously passed a resolution requiring compliance with public health orders. Violations of this order can result in a civil fine of $500.
Based on the timeline with influenza and respiratory illnesses, Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail said a second wave tends to align with the fall and winter seasons. During this time, people tend to spend more time indoors in congregated settings sharing air space.
New emergency orders issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and local health departments – including Ingham County Health Department – will not be affected by the court’s ruling.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an economic toll on many Americans, college students in particular have found it difficult to maintain employment and a steady income to pay for their tuition, rent and other expenses.
“The mantra that I have, when it comes to COVID-19: everyone's infected, including you,” Stanley said. “And that’s how I look at what I do. I just assume that everybody I come in contact with potentially has COVID-19, and I assume I potentially have COVID-19. So it’s my responsibility to not infect them, and I’m expecting them to take responsibility to not infect me.”
"There's going to be places that are open," journalism senior Darin Baydoun said. "There's always people going to be looking for work. An internship is an internship, at the very least it's a low end thing."
Isolation housing is only for MSU students living on campus or in an on-campus apartment with suitemates or roommates. It is not mandatory for a student who tests positive for COVID-19 to quarantine in Kellogg.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bran has seen a huge increase in need for counseling, especially from women of color who might have lost jobs or are bound to making sure their families, specifically children, are safe and healthy. She's also seen an increase in domestic violence and sexual assault survivors seeking help.
In the week of Sept. 28, MSU reported a total of 27 cases connected to the university. In the week prior, they saw nearly four times that amount with 103 cases the week of Sept. 21.
This comes following the Michigan Supreme Court ruling Friday that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lacked the authority to declare a state of emergency after April 30.
None of us can afford any further setbacks or other obstacles that will worsen the situation for all of us.
These orders keep several COVID-19 protections in place including the use of face coverings, limitations on indoor and outdoor gathering sizes, 50% or 125-person capacity limit for restaurants and mandatory employee health screenings, according to the release.