Ahead of Halloween, San Diego State students are once again being asked to stay at home to slow the spread of COVID-19. This comes as at least 1,200 students on and off campus have tested positive for the virus.
"Just having that formal reminder definitely will help keep people in check," said SDSU freshman Luke Kennelly. "And just remind them because things have definitely died down here with the intensity of COVID, number of cases and people getting quarantined."
Now through Monday, Nov. 2, SDSU officials are asking students not to go out. School officials first issued a stay-at-home advisory in September, following a spike in coronavirus cases. Students have had the option to move off-campus, and it looks like a lot of them did.
"Now it’s like even more dead," said freshman Daniel Snow. "I don't really see anyone around campus ever, I feel like maybe 50 people live here."
Students are being asked to only go out for essential needs like food or work during the stay-at-home advisory. Many freshmen living on campus we talked to said the order at least reminds students that the pandemic is far from over.
"I think that generally it’s good to set that boundary for Halloween, but also I don't know how many people are going to listen to it," said freshman Maria Vlad.
Some students said their peers are already going to Halloween parties.
"I know why they’re doing it — this is Halloween time," freshman Divine Favour-Orisakwe said. "The one time we’re kind of excited for, and like Halloween parties is something I’ve already seen a lot of people go to."
RELATED: SDSU Extends Stay-At-Home Order Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases
Some said other students are not taking the virus seriously and they wonder if issuing another stay-at-home advisory will do any good.
"It’s not really being enforced," said freshman Armoniem Gugsa. "There’s still going to be that group of people who haven’t been listening before that are going to keep going out anyway. So it’s not going to do that much."
SDSU officials said penalties for violating the stay-at-home could include suspension or expulsion. According to the university, nearly 900 students have been given notices for alleged COVID-19 related violations since late August.
