Life at Amherst is pretty close to normal as well. They are testing twice a week and have had almost no student cases for the past month. They have had an occasional case or two, but have not had anything close to an outbreak.
Parties were actually allowed starting after the first two weeks (formally, they are supposed to be wearing masks, but informally, nobody actually does, according to my D). Rooms are also supposed to be at 50% capacity or less for parties, but D has heard this is not really being followed. Most of the sports teams are hosting parties every weekend and a formal once per semester, as is the case during a normal year.
Masks still required in academic buildings and technically in dorms (but informally, very few people actually wearing them in the dorms, though virtually everybody complies with mask requirement in academic buildings). Students have to wear masks in the dining hall while they are not seated. Also, while the dining hall is still at 50% seating capacity (which they are supposedly planning to expand this week), enough students opt to get their meals to go or eat outside that there is enough room for everyone who wants to do so to sit in the dining hall.
D reports that besides most students wearing masks in academic buildings and before they sit down in the dining hall (plus testing twice per week), it pretty much looks like a normal year.
Also, fall break was last weekend and ended this past Tuesday. Students tested on Tuesday evening, Wednesday or Thursday (depending on which day they are assigned), and yesterday or today (depending on which day they are assigned). So far, no new student cases.
Ironic how at the beginning of the semester, Amherst College was briefly trending on Twitter for having the strictest COVID regulations of any college in the country, but now, campus life appears to be more relaxed in practice than many of its peers.
The town of Amherst also has a very low COVID prevalence rate right now, which also helps.
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