By Tooba Khan
COVID‑19 is rising again, and students are starting to feel the impact. Over the past few weeks, more people have been missing class, reporting fevers, coughs, and fatigue. According to recent CDC tracking, new variants continue to spread in school settings because students spend long hours indoors and in close contact.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University recently noted that COVID‑19 waves often return when new variants appear, even if earlier cases had gone down. They also found that reinfections are becoming more common, especially among teenagers who were exposed to earlier strains.
“We have definitely seen an increasing number of students coming in sick lately,” school nurse Rehana Chunara said.
According to Harvard School of Public Health, schools can see sudden spikes when students return from breaks or large events, which matches what many campuses across the country are experiencing right now.
Many teachers have also noticed students struggling to keep up with classwork after being out sick. Some say that missing even a few days can make it harder for students to stay on track, especially in fast‑moving classes. Staff members are reminding students to check online assignments and reach out if they need help catching up.
“A lot of kids are missing school days,” said Coach Moore. “They are getting behind early.”
Students are encouraged to stay home if they feel sick, wash their hands often, and keep an eye on symptoms. Even though COVID‑19 has been around for years, experts say staying careful still helps protect the school community.
