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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Secretaries from Education and Health and Human Services sent a letter to public and private colleges and universities across the Commonwealth last week, asking that high education schools embrace a more normal student life.
"Our goal must now be to transition the COVID-19 Pandemic into an endemic," the letter from Secretary of Education James Peyser and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders read.
The letter went on to say that advancements such as rapid testing, vaccine, and digital vaccine cards have allowed for the opportunity to begin the transition into opening our society with public health strategies.
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"The 'twindemic' is COVID and social isolation. The impact of two years of social isolation, anxiety, stress, and depression is profound and one we must confront and support individuals, their loved ones, and our community," Peyser and Sudders said.
The letter said that higher education schools have the chance to take the lead on bringing back a "near normal," teaching students how to safely engage in a community with relaxed COVID-19 regulations.
Peyser and Sudders said in their joint statement that investments should be made into student mental health services to accommodate the widespread issues of anxiety and depression amid the two-year-long pandemic.
WBZ's Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) reports.
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