The hidden costs of coronavirus could cripple academia for years
If there were such a thing as a coronavirus dictionary, ‘long-haulers’ would be the latest entry—those people who suffer from symptoms long after others have overcome the virus. As the pandemic intensifies again in Europe after months of decline, it is clear some regions and economies will also suffer from the protracted impact of the infection.
Can educational institutions be long-haulers, too? We are seeing the first hints of this as universities reopen across the continent to let in a fresh batch of students. In Norway and France, infection rates have rapidly increased within the first weeks of on-campus teaching. Sweden has decided to cancel entrance exams after infections spiked among the young. Germany has revealed that its international student body has shrunk significantly due to travel restrictions.