College Campuses and Towns Have No Good Choices

College life this fall is going to be a potential source of trouble -- both on campus and for the towns where colleges are located. Meeting friends, dorm life, socializing and attending classes are among the highest-risk activities in terms of spreading Covid-19 because they involve prolonged indoor personal contact. A study from South Korea shows that young people in their late teens and early 20s spread the virus faster than people of other ages.

The most responsible thing universities could do in terms of protecting public health would be to close dorms, hold classes online and bar all in-person student social activities for the fall semester. On their own, young people are unlikely to be safe and responsible; even if classes enforce strict social distancing and masking requirements, parties and dorm rooms will become breeding grounds for the virus. Young people don’t often die of the disease, but they can suffer long-term respiratory, neurological and other effects. They can also infect more vulnerable populations such as professors, administrators, family members and other community members.