Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Worcester, Lawrence: inclusive, houses, school)

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by robr2

I've lost at least two family members in Brazil to Covid in the past couple of months. Bolsinara has ignored the science, encouraged crowds, denounces masking, and has made anti-vax statements. He just named his fourth health minister in 15 months who has vowed to continue Bolsinaro's plan of no lockdowns and no mask requirements.

Major business leaders who backed his election are now calling on him to step down.

Wow, sorry to hear of your loss . From what I have been reading, Bolsonaro has essentially tried to prioritize retaining as much economic activity as possible over tackling the pandemic as much as possible, and in order to do that, he's essentially been countering the medical and public health information with his own "alternative facts". Trump did a lot of the same things, but there were also strong voices to provide the truth here. In Brazil, Bolsonaro has more control and his disinformation has really carried the day.

[yesmaybe]

I wouldn't worry about it. Europe is having the same problems too. The main difference is that the vaccine penetration here is way better than either and is only getting better.

But getting rid of the virus completely is going to take a long time.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Dude students are still coming over.

Not from everywhere. Talk to people that provide support to academia. Property management companies for dorms, vending companies, moving companies, chambers of commerce in college communities etc.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marvink...ome-them-back/

"A new report shows that the number of international students studying in the United States fell 18 percent last year, according to student visa records. Even worse, with US consulates worldwide shuttered by the pandemic, the number of visas issued for newly enrolled international students dropped a whopping 72 percent."

So yeah they are coming back but it's way less. Will this change? Well are they taking gap years, going to another institution or taking classes online?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Not from everywhere. Talk to people that provide support to academia. Property management companies for dorms, vending companies, moving companies, chambers of commerce in college communities etc.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marvink...ome-them-back/

"A new report shows that the number of international students studying in the United States fell 18 percent last year, according to student visa records. Even worse, with US consulates worldwide shuttered by the pandemic, the number of visas issued for newly enrolled international students dropped a whopping 72 percent."

So yeah they are coming back but it's way less. Will this change? Well are they taking gap years, going to another institution or taking classes online?

Obviously it's going to be lower than the previous year, we are amidst a pandemic after all. And yes there will be temporary travel restrictions from hot spots as they pop up. All temporary things. But as to your assertion that students are not coming over here, that is totally inaccurate.

[OutdoorLover]

Looking at the new US Covid-19 cases on Worldometers - it stopped declining after the first week in March and there has been a small uptick, but so far, that rise is very small. I added the 3-day moving average line in blue.

[sawyer2]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Not from everywhere. Talk to people that provide support to academia. Property management companies for dorms, vending companies, moving companies, chambers of commerce in college communities etc.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marvink...ome-them-back/

"A new report shows that the number of international students studying in the United States fell 18 percent last year, according to student visa records. Even worse, with US consulates worldwide shuttered by the pandemic, the number of visas issued for newly enrolled international students dropped a whopping 72 percent."

So yeah they are coming back but it's way less. Will this change? Well are they taking gap years, going to another institution or taking classes online?

18% drop last year- that's it? - in the middle of the pandemic? I would have expected far, far more.


And from the article you cited

"International students are again clamoring to come to the United States.
That’s the word we’re getting from our international partners, and it’s the trend we’re starting to see in application and enrollment numbers. And it’s extraordinarily good news."

I'm sorry mdovell your dream is fading

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by OutdoorLover

Looking at the new US Covid-19 cases on Worldometers - it stopped declining after the first week in March and there has been a small uptick, but so far, that rise is very small.

It's more than a "small uptick", and the recent increase should not be downplayed. We are currently at higher levels than at the peak of the 1st Wave in April 2020. When you consider that people weren't even wearing masks in April 2020, and obviously nobody was vaccinated, the numbers we're seeing now are truly concerning. Currently, 15% of the country is fully vaccinated and 28% is partially vaccinated. The recent increase suggests that the variants are moving faster than the vaccination programs.

And restrictions are being loosened...

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by sawyer2

18% drop last year- that's it? - in the middle of the pandemic? I would have expected far, far more.


And from the article you cited

"International students are again clamoring to come to the United States.
That’s the word we’re getting from our international partners, and it’s the trend we’re starting to see in application and enrollment numbers. And it’s extraordinarily good news."

I'm sorry mdovell your dream is fading

This isn't a dream. The article clearly stated that enrollment was down and if you don't have a Visa you can't come over. I'm not arguing that people are going to abandon Academia there's always going to be people that want to attend higher education but that's regardless of where it is and if it's a satellite campus or online..

The 18% drop is those that are not coming back but the enrollments before visas have dropped More than 70%. If you don't have visas they can't come over.

Heck in New Hampshire the governor is going so far to say they're not going to provide for vaccines for out-of-state students and that includes those from other countries.

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by redplum33

It's more than a "small uptick", and the recent increase should not be downplayed. We are currently at higher levels than at the peak of the 1st Wave in April 2020. When you consider that people weren't even wearing masks in April 2020, and obviously nobody was vaccinated, the numbers we're seeing now are truly concerning. Currently, 15% of the country is fully vaccinated and 28% is partially vaccinated. The recent increase suggests that the variants are moving faster than the vaccination programs.

And restrictions are being loosened...

That is a tough comparison to make when you compare testing numbers. We weren't testing a million people per day. MA is testing more people in one day than the whole USA was at the same time last year.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by mdovell

This isn't a dream. The article clearly stated that enrollment was down and if you don't have a Visa you can't come over. I'm not arguing that people are going to abandon Academia there's always going to be people that want to attend higher education but that's regardless of where it is and if it's a satellite campus or online..

Doesn't seem like the bigger Boston schools are having a problem getting applicants and I doubt it's for a satellite campus or online.