Medford Residents Concerned Over Tufts Reopening Plan

MEDFORD, MA — Tufts University's plan to reopen campus this fall has nearby Medford residents worried the influx of students will raise their chances of exposure to the coronavirus. Tufts President Tony Monaco said in late June the residential campus will be open this fall and classes will be held in person, online or over a hybrid format, meaning students will return to on- and off-campus housing in Medford and Somerville.

Some residents condemned the decision to reopen on Facebook, calling it "horrifying" and "ridiculous." The issue was brought to the attention of local officials by a Medford resident who identified herself as a recent Tufts graduate.

"More than half of Tufts's upperclassmen live off-campus in the Medford/Somerville communities, and, speaking as someone who went to Tufts, students leave campus often," she wrote.

"In my opinion as a contact tracer, the return of all the students to the same schedule (adding small groups with some online study) doesn't seem safe for students or for the community," another resident posted.

Several others echoed the sentiment that returning students could put residents at risk. City Councilors Nicole Morell and Zac Bears said they would communicate with Tufts officials, as well as health and city leaders in Somerville and Medford, to determine what precautions, if any, are being taken to minimize the risk to the university's host communities.

In an email to Patch, Tufts University spokesperson Patrick Collins said the school plans to test all students, including those living off-campus, as they return for classes this fall. The plan also calls for frequent testing of students and student-facing faculty and staff throughout the semester to identify asymptomatic carriers, rapid diagnostic testing of those exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and contact tracing when cases are confirmed.

Students diagnosed with COVID-19 will be housed in modular residential units that will be set up on campus before the start of the semester, while those living with them will quarantine in their residences.

"Students who live off-campus will be considered to be in a residential cohort with their housemates," Collins wrote. "Any student who lives off campus may be required to convalesce on campus if they test positive for COVID-19. If one member of an off-campus residential cohort tests positive, their housemates will also go into quarantine."

Tufts will implement social distancing guidelines, mask-wearing requirements and strict hygiene practices, all of which will extend to off-campus students, said Collins. The school will reduce the number of students in some residence halls and classrooms, interactions will be limited to "residential cohorts" of 6-12 students. There will be new regulations imposed on extracurricular activities, and dining halls will offer additional hours, locations, options to pre-order food and a reservation system to reduce crowding.

Gatherings are limited to 10 people, and those who host or participate in larger gatherings will be subject to disciplinary action, Collins said.

"We believe our plan prioritizes the health and safety of our community and neighbors while preserving as much of our campus experience as possible given the challenging circumstances," Collins wrote, acknowledging that it will not be able to "eliminate all risk."

The university plans to hold a virtual community meeting in August to share its reopening plans and answer questions from neighbors.