There are many ways Ohio University could improve their Public Health Policy to better protect and serve students and staff. It is easy to criticize their policy but what about solutions? Hopefully this can help you understand the off ramp and where COVID polices should go as soon as possible. At the end their is a hypothetical example of what a New Ohio University Health Policy could look like. Lets start with testing since that is usually the first step in identifying COVID.
In our previous press release Mandatory Vaccination, Masking, and Testing DOES NOT Prevent COVID Spread but DOES CAUSE HARM, We discussed the harms of testing, specifically over-testing and mass testing. The first big improvement that can be made to testing is sticking to the idea of “not ordering a test unless the test will change the treatment.“
So what does not ordering a test unless the test will change the treatment mean?
Let’s say we have a student at Ohio University. The student begins to have symptoms like a soar throat and a runny nose. These symptoms could be caused by a plethora of things. A misdiagnosis could lead to the student receiving improper treatment for something they do not have. In this case it would be appropriate to test the student for COVID, influenza, or other appropriate tests like a strep throat tests for example. The results of the tests would change the treatment.
This alone will not make any large impact as it is very similar to how OU currently responds to symptomatic students. Which is why Ohio University should also STOP mandatory testing of asymptomatic students.
Overtesting has ballooned to an extent in which testing capacity becomes overwhelmed. Paradoxically, the healthcare system can be jeopardized by the increasing demand of testing by those seeking COVID tests. This can also prevent people who do need an asymptomatic test because they are traveling, or maybe visiting someone who is immunocompromised from getting a test. We have already seen examples of this when students were locked out of their dorms because of overtesting. This would not happen with fully optional asymptomatic testing.
This science based testing approach sets a good base for the rest of the policy improvements. Next is masking, Fauci was right about one thing, in 2020 when he said “There is no reason to be walking around with a mask”, and even warned of “unintended consequences” of wearing a mask.
The science and data has been clear on masks as discussed in our last press release, masks are ineffective and do little more than make people feel better. Many studies have even found masks may cause more harm than good. Ohio University should absolutely NOT require masks under any circumstance. If someone wants to wear a mask to as Dr. Fauci says “feel better” they can make a choice to mask themselves. Making everyone wear masks is pointless and anti-science. Everyone knows required masking has created hostile enviorments on campus between students and some teachers and students and some RA’s, this is not a problem with optional masks.
Now let’s talk about how we can improve isolation/quarantine, where students have been subject to bare minimum items, isolation from friends, family, and class, and even struggling to actually receive food in quarantine. No student should be sent to a COVID quarantine hall with little food and supplies. If a student is diagnosed with COVID they should react as they would if they were diagnosed with the flu, or pneumonia, or most other respiratory viruses. They should avoid class and work and spend a few days in bed until they are feeling better. Quarantine especially for a respiratory virus like this unnecessary and can be harmful.
Now that we have talked about prevention we can talk about policy relating to treating students who do have symptomatic COVID. As we have discussed MANY times the Vaccine-Fits-All approach is not only anti-science it is also harmful, so we won’t spend much time on vaccines. But COVID vaccination should be treated by Ohio University the same way Flu Vaccination is. Because respiratory viruses mutate so quick vaccines are usually not very effective against them. This is why there is a new flu vaccine that IS NOT REQUIRED every year. Ohio University should make COVID vaccines available for people who want and give informed consent to receive one. Ohio University Should not make COVID or Flu vaccines mandatory.
Early treatment for COVID has already saved countless lives and will continue to do so. repurposed therapeutics that have been regulatory approved and have been used in some instances for decades for other illnesses. Ohio University has put in no effort to make early treatments available or even informed students and staff that early treatments and effective off label use drugs are available. Right now if you are vaccinated and get COVID there is no treatment protocol because the policy currently still relies on the false belief that the vaccines would prevent people from ever even getting COVID.
Ohio University could distribute COVID care packages that contain early and preventive treatments like many places have. For example Mexico has began distributing COVID Kits that include Ivermectin, acetaminophen (tylenol), and azithromycin which is an antibiotic commonly used to treat pneumonia. These are drugs with VERY favorable safety profiles.
Countries around the world have had GREAT success using Ivermectin to prevent COVID as well as treat it, as this study from 2021 found. In addition to that there have been 76 different studies done on Ivermectin for COVID-19 and they have overall found Ivermectin to be a VERY good way to prevent and even treat COVID.
Many countries have adopted Ivermectin to fight COVID to some degree.
Ivermectin is not alone, many drugs have been found to have effective off label use against COVID. The site c19early.com gives a real-time analysis of over 1,334 studies of alternative treatments for COVID.
So what would a science based improved public health policy for Ohio University look like?
Improved Health Policy for Ohio University
This is a hypothetical policy that shows one example of how Ohio University could improve their health policy for COVID-19. It does not reflect Ohio University or their current health policies*
Introduction
[proposed policy] provides Ohio University the ability to take appropriate action to address transmittable disease, epidemics, pandemics, and other threats to the health and safety of persons associated with Ohio University. Pursuant to the policy, the President, or their designee, in consultation with the Chief Medical Affairs Officer (“CMAO”) and Special Assistant to the President for Public Health Operations, has the authority to establish specific health requirements for community members appropriate to current community health risks.
The health requirements promulgated under this policy may be modified or rescinded by the President or their designee at any time for any reason. Any changes related to these health requirements will be communicated via electronic mail to Ohio University students, faculty, and staff.
Community Health Directives
Pursuant to, and in compliance with Interim Policy, and in consultation with the Ohio University CMAO and Special Assistant to the President for Public Health Operations, I hereby issue the following Community Health Directives to be effective on the date set forth above.
1. Face Coverings
“Face covering” (or “mask”) as used herein shall mean a surgical, KN95 N95, or KF94 mask or a similar face covering.
- Outdoors: Masks are optional for all individuals and may be worn by anyone who chooses to wear a mask.
- Indoors: Masks are optional for all individuals and may be worn by anyone who chooses to wear a mask.
2. Physical Distancing
Individuals are not required to practice physical distancing on OHIO campuses, anyone who wishes to keep their distance has the ability to do so thanks to improvements already made on and around campus. Ohio University acknowledges remaining 6 feet away from everyone forever is unrealistic especially on a college campus
3. COVID-19 Positive, Symptomatic, or COVID-19 Exposed
Exposed: take no action unless you begin to develop symptoms. Like every other respiratory virus.
Symptomatic: You may take a COVID, Flu, or other test at campus health locations. Ohio University also encourages students to contact their primary care doctor as they would for other respiratory infections.
COVID-19 Positive: avoid class and large gatherings until symptoms succeed. Doctors notes/excuses are available for students who take a symptomatic test and test positive on campus.
4. Quarantine and Isolation
No student or staff is required to quarantine or isolate themselves for COVID-19. Quarantine space is available for people who are diagnosed with COVID and want a isolated space. Some people do not have the proper means or room to self quarantine. Optional quarantine makes sure services are open and available for people who really need it.
5. Participation in Contact Tracing Efforts
Contact tracing is optional, Ohio university acknowledges overtesting can cause unnecessary anxiety and stress.
6. COVID-19 Testing
COVID testing is fully optional for both asymptomatic and symptomatic students and staff.
Symptomatic: You may take a COVID, Flu, or other test at campus health locations. Ohio University also encourages students to contact their primary care doctor as they would for other respiratory infections.
Asymptomatic: Students and staff are only encouraged to do asymptomatic testing if they are traveling, visiting someone who may be high risk, or other similar reasons. Mass asymptomatic testing slows down results, swamps COVID operations, does not provide an accurate overview of positivity rates, and allows less tests to be available for those who really need them.
7. COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
Vaccination for COVID-19 is not required but is recommended yearly like other respiratory infection vaccines like the Flu vaccine.
Further Guidance and Resources
- COVID-19 prevention and early treatment kit
- Mental health services for people impacted by the pandemic
- Focus on things that make students succeed, like in person class, in person events, and in person organizations.
These policy improvements would help students succeed and shift their focus away from COVID and back towards college. These policy improvements would significantly help COVID operations be able to keep up with helping the people who need it most and the quickest. These policy improvements further decrease the chances of something happening to a member of the Ohio University community. These policy improvements keep Bobcats safe without unnecessary interruptions.
I am not an expert and I don’t know everyone’s personal health situation, and no one does. That is why the policy allows the most wide range of options as possible. No one knows everything about COVID. COVID is not the same for everyone. A one size fits all policy can never and will never work. This policy reflects that in allowing each individual to know about a wider range of treatments and encourages people to find a protocol for treatment and prevention that fits them best with the help of their own personal doctors who better understand their individual health.
SaveOhioU.com 