While the surge of Omicron is still on the rise, UTSA administrators plan to continue with the original plan of returning to in-person modalities on Feb. 7. Students are filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety due to the steady increase in positive Omicron cases. With this in mind, it is important for faculty and students to continue practicing COVID-19 safety precautions. 

Given that some students are still cautious about going to class in person, it would be wise of professors to implement a hybrid option for their courses to not only help those who feel unsafe, but also aid those ill with COVID-19. This is possible by recording all lectures and posting them to Blackboard after or having a Zoom link available for all in-person classes. Students can do their part by social distancing in public areas and isolating if they feel ill, as well as alerting all professors and peers. Students can also wear their masks indoors and in places where social distancing is not possible. It is vital during times like this for students and professors to keep in constant communication because, believe it or not, professors can be pretty understanding. 

Since the return to campus is approaching, people may feel as though things are safe and back to normal, but that is not exactly the case. On Jan. 30, there were 892 hospital admissions in Bexar County alone and 37,630 cases within seven days. This just shows that people cannot abandon their safety measures, especially when going back to lecture halls filled with people and a campus possibly buzzing with COVID-19. 

The pandemic is not slowing down anytime soon, and while it is not an ideal time for faculty and students to be returning to campus, the spread of the virus can be limited as long as everyone does their part. This is something that several people need to realize, or else the pandemic will never subside.