Many Western students feel they're being unfairly blamed for city's 'second wave' of COVID-19

Western University students say they're being unfairly blamed for the actions of a few bad actors after health authorities declared a "second wave" of coronavirus infections amid a rash of new cases among young people.

• Want to see how Western students started an outbreak? Look at this

On Friday, London health authorities asked the province to impose new rules on social gatherings, capping the size of private gatherings from 50 to 10 indoors and from 100 to 25 outdoors. 

The request was made by health officials after 11 of the 13 new cases of COVID-19 discovered in the city Friday were found to be linked. Nine out of those 11 cases were traced to the same student house party attended by dozens of people over the Sept. 12 weekend. 

Now, dozens of Western students are infected as the virus appears to be making a comeback in the city after weeks of relatively few new cases. Both London Mayor Ed Holder and Medical Officer of Health Dr. Chris Mackie have publicly rebuked students, who they say have little regard for the rules meant to curb the deadly virus' spread. 

'It's an easy target'

However, many students feel they are being responsible when it comes to protecting the health of others and claim they've been unfairly lumped together with a few bad actors among their peers. 

"I have driven by quite sizeable parties and have talked to some of my friends who are in undergrad," said Luke Nagalo, a Western University graduate student in the faculty of dentistry.

"There's select groups of people who are having these large, reckless gatherings and I don't think it's all students as a whole." 

Amrit Bhogal, who is also dental student, said he thinks people should look to their own behaviour before they cast judgment on others. 

"I think it's important to self-reflect before you can actively criticize someone else," he said. "We're known as a party school and to have a very social atmosphere, so I think it's just an easy headline to read."

"I don't think that's fair. From an age standpoint and a location standpoint, I'm sure there are a lot of other universities that are having similar issues, but they're just not as popular." 

"I totally agree," said Nagalo. "It's an easy target. How many people have been to 15, 25 family parties in the backyard? Just because they're not drinking and partying like young people, still, those types of gatherings are also to blame."

'I don't think having house parties is going to help anyone'

Others see the current situation as an inevitability, given so many people have started moving between communities for the first time since March. 

"I don't think it's Western students per se, I just think that if any institution were to open up to this many people it would be bound to happen," said Megha Thakur, a Western undergraduate student who lives in residence. 

"People just aren't being safe in general." 

"It's off-campus, most of the cases," said Iris Kwon, who also lives in an on-campus residence. "I thought everything in place, at least with housing, was pretty good, but at this point it's up the students, like the responsibilities." 

"I do think residence-wise, yeah, we've taken every possible measure," said Thakur. "Obviously whatever people do in their homes off-campus is up to their discretion, but I really don't think having house parties is going to help anyone."