As the new school year is here, so are new COVID-19 protocols. 

The Marlow superintendent, Corey Holland put out an email two weeks ago to all members of the district, stating that students who test positive will be able to return to school.

However, students who test positive are recommended to get a negative test and wear a mask for five days after the mandatory quarantine period. 

Students are relieved about the new COVID protocol being relaxed after the two previous years of difficult mask mandates and quarantines. 

Even though students have a better understanding of COVID-19 students still need to continue to protect themselves from the new variants of the virus. 

Marlow’s school nurse, Jennifer Ebun believes the CDC guidelines are appropriate. “We are in year two of covid, and I think the CDC has got a pretty good handle on it,” Ebun stated. “They’ve got new guidelines for everyone to follow, which are way less restrictive.” COVID cases are rising locally , not just in schools. 

According to usafacts.org,  the daily cases in Stephens county are rising with the recent variant known to the public as Subvariant BA.5. 

This variant is believed to destroy previous immunity from COVID infection and vaccinations. 

Being vaccinated does not provide much protection as it did in the past when going up against the variants BA.4 and BA.5.

The most common symptoms for BA.5 involve fever, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, heavy muscle pain, and fatigue.  

The recovery time for the new variant is around two-six weeks for a mild case, but could be longer depending on the person’s immune system.

Also, taking part in the CDC’s health guidelines and recommendations for COVID could enhance student’s opportunities of staying healthy.

Just as Ebun recommends following CDC guidelines, so does nurse Lanell Taylor at Duncan Regional Hospital. 

“We must abide by the CDC recommendations/mandates. The new variants are much more contagious and are hitting more people as a “summer cold, or allergies” but does not go away at the normal timeframe. 

Wearing your mask and social distancing is the key to protecting yourself and others while in a large crowd.”

Nurse Taylor also was able to shed some light on the pattern of infection for children and adults. “Yes, the new variant has been seen more in the younger population due to no social distancing and not wearing masks.  

We have not seen the younger people hospitalized, which is a plus.”

With COVID rising students along with younger generations need to be reminded to wear their masks and social distance in large crowds.