The Los Rios Board of Trustees voted to end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on Oct. 19. The mandate was officially lifted on Nov. 14. 

Ending the mandate lifts the requirement of the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff, allowing anyone to be on campus regardless of their vaccination status. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, as of Nov. 30, the current seven day average of weekly new cases is 43,300. 

This is just the number of cases that have been reported, there are probably many more that haven’t. COVID-19 isn’t over yet, and should still be taken seriously. With the holiday season in full swing, we should also expect a spike in cases these next coming weeks.

The LRCCD needs to make sure they are doing everything they can to make sure students and staff stay safe now that the mandate has been lifted. 

The LRCCD janitorial staff will be an essential part of this process. The district should provide the proper funding and staff required to keep campuses clean and safe – this includes classrooms and offices. They need to make sure that there are people who come into classrooms and wipe down desks and other surfaces. 

Right now, professors and classified staff have to buy their own cleaning products and clean classrooms themselves. This takes time and money away from professors, when these resources should be provided by the LRCCD. 

There are good things that the LRCCD is doing to protect students and staff from COVID-19, like strongly encouraging masks and the vaccine, as well as improving the air filters in classrooms. 

This is a good start to keeping everyone safe, but it shouldn’t be the only things that are being done to limit the spread of COVID-19. 

With the proper time, funding and staff, American River College and other LRCCD colleges can continue to provide a safe and clean learning and teaching environment for students and staff.