Cherry trees and Covid masks

A sunny day in Seattle.  And a warm day (for a March day in Seattle), meaning I wore a sweater instead of a jacket.

I did a walk today through and around the University of Washington campus.  I'm happy to report that the cherry trees on the Upper Quad are in full bloom, undeterred by the pandemic.  I can't say that classes are in full bloom, however, although yesterday was the beginning of Spring Quarter.  The school will continue offering primarily remote instruction, except for laboratories, performing arts, and other classes that cannot be offered practically over a computer.

The school does say, however, that they plan to offer more informal student activities and services on campus this quarter.  

The combination of a new quarter, cherry trees, and sunshine did draw a crowd -- primarily of students, but also of older visitors.  Virtually everyone was wearing a mask, which is mandatory on campus.  I'm not so sure that the six-foot distancing rule was so carefully obeyed -- kids will be kids, and they hate to distance themselves from each other.

The Seattle Times reports increased infections at the UW, with 48 new cases in the last ten days.  Experts warn that in Washington, even while new cases are dwindling among persons over 60 years of age, the largest cohort of those infected by new Covid-19 infections has been those under 40.  We are being warned, moreover, that not only does this pool of infected young people pose a threat to older, unimmunized people, but that, contrary to the belief of many, it also poses a serious threat to the young people themselves.

But the long term prospects are far better now than they were a year ago.  The UW is planning for full on-campus instruction by Autumn Quarter.  We all hope that the next time the cherry trees burst into flower, the pandemic will be largely a problem of the past.