Oxford ranks number three in the nation for COVID 19 cases according to published reports. It’s home to the University of Mississippi, with an enrollment of more than 19,000 students. Joshua Mannery is Associated Student Body President. He says the university has a COVID 19 education campaign in place and strict guidelines on campus. He believes many of the students who gather off campus are freshman, but says they’re not alone.
“You can’t expect them to just immediately fall in line and buy into this campaign. Their freshmen and for a lot of them it’s their first time being on campus, being at the university and we can’t just expect them to comply. And then you have a lot of older students too who I think the mind set is ‘we’re going to have fun,’ said Mannery.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs says Mississippi’s universities are doing a good job of putting preventive measures in place, but keeping students from gathering is proving tough.
“It’s the off-campus stuff, it’s the parties, you know, it’s really just going to be one of our biggest challenges. It’s a real concern it’s going to seed into the community,” said Dobbs.
The town of Oxford is reporting 337 active cases. Dobbs is encouraging students and residents to follow guidelines and exercise caution as the football season approaches.
