COVID-19 | February 1st, 2022

After Five Days, Isolation Dorms Cancel Meal Deliveries

By: De’Ja Stokes

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated and shortened the recommended isolation and quarantine time for those who test positive to five days. Now, Florida A&M University is following suit and canceling the meal deliveries to the isolation dorms after five days.

As of December 27, 2021, the CDC recommends that people with COVID-19 should isolate for five days. If they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), the COVID-19 protocol can be followed by another five days of wearing a mask around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.

“They have to complete the five days but after that, they are able to resume their normal activities”

While the updated recommendation has been lambasted as a hasty decision, FAMU is adjusting its isolation dorm policy to align with the CDC’s advice. Tanya Tatum, the Director of Human Health Services at FAMU, said that the isolation period has changed because the CDC changed the time frame for isolation and quarantine. 

As of late, both the required isolation period and meal deliveries are cancelled after five days. “They have to complete the five days but after that, they are able to resume their normal activities,” said Tatum.

Before this novel policy, some students did not have the best experiences with the isolation dorms and its meal deliveries. Some were not even aware of having the option of a meal delivery. “I didn’t use any on campus food delivery services. I wasn’t sure if I was able to so I just reached out to my friends,” said Zoe Hightower, a sophomore student at FAMU, who was in isolation during the spring of 2021.

“The dorm apartment was abandoned and there were bugs everywhere. I didn’t even have a shower curtain”

Other students recall their experience as dreadful and lonely. Aniya Hoggatt, a sophomore at FAMU, said that her experience was “horrible.” 

“The dorm apartment was abandoned and there were bugs everywhere. I didn’t even have a shower curtain,” said Hoggatt. She also said she did not eat any of the meals delivered, because the food was cold and “didn’t look edible,” an occurring remark amongst students who have been placed in on-campus isolation. 

Hoggatt used DoorDash meal delivery service for the entirety of her isolation period, noting that it was the only method of food delivery that kept her from starving.

“Nobody wants to go in isolation but five days is certainly better than the ten days that we had before,” continued Tatum. With the new policy in place, FAMU Health Services believes circumstances for those in the isolation dorms may be better than before and it should not have a negative effect on students. FAMU Health Services is still urging students to wear masks for an extra five days outside of the isolation dorm.