In Urban’s crowded classrooms, students share almost everything — pens, pencils, snacks and drinks — creating the perfect environment for viruses to spread. COVID-19, mononucleosis and norovirus have all made their rounds this academic year, in addition to the common cold and seasonal flu.
During past viral outbreaks, Urban’s Health & Safety Team has sent all-school emails urging students to stay home when sick, wash hands frequently and avoid sharing food or drink. The Health Initiative for Peer Education group (HIPE) has also put up signs with similar messages. These signs adorn hallways and bathroom mirrors, encouraging students to follow safety precautions.
The speed at which an outbreak spreads depends on whether students follow health protocols. “I don’t think people want to catch [diseases], but I don’t know if that surpasses their desires to do the things that they want to do,” Eva Spero ’26 said.
For many students, taking precautions means giving up aspects of their social life — a sacrifice some may not be willing to make. “Protecting health isn’t at the top of a lot of students’ radar,” Kali Love ’27 said. “People care more about not having to say no to their friends and … end up sharing food and drinks instead.”
Some students fear judgment from peers for prioritizing their health. “If you choose to wear a mask and not share your food … with your friends, it can be judged because it seems like you’re not trusting [your friends] to be safe and protect you,” Judi Lee ’25 said.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to students’ associations between health precautions and weakened social connections. “The lockdowns and the height of COVID were really isolating,” Ella Braverman ’27 said. “When people explain to me why they don’t mask, they usually say that they want to be able to socialize again, and they want to see people’s faces again.”
Social connection is not the only thing students are reluctant to sacrifice. Academic pressure also influences students’ health decisions, and many choose to attend class even when they are sick. “It’s a little bit disappointing that we’re not able to take the right precautions because … missing one day of school is fairly detrimental to our grades,” Lee said. “It takes a lot to catch up, especially if you’ve been sick.”
Choosing to come to class when sick can impact other students’ safety. “People will come in and be like, ‘I had a fever, I’m coughing and I threw up last night, and I didn’t take a COVID test — but I really need to be in science right now because I don’t want to miss it,’” Braverman said.
Students’ willingness to follow health protocols may depend on the severity of symptoms. “I was surprised at how hard students were trying not to get norovirus. … People pay more attention to things that have immediate, really unpleasant effects instead of things that could affect their health later on,” Braverman said. “Generally, the people around me are a lot less worried about respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 or the flu.”
Depending on a person’s personal circumstance, catching an illness can come with different implications. “When people are like, ‘It’s fine if I get sick because I can just sit [at] home so I don’t have to go to school,’ that comes from a place of privilege,” Spero said. “It’s different for people who have family members who have to work and can’t afford to miss a day.”
For some, following health precautions is necessary for protecting their families. “You don’t know what someone else’s immune system situation is like,” said Braverman, who lives with an immunocompromised family member. “If we all have an uncareful attitude around [health], then we make the spaces that we’re in really unsafe for disabled people.”