# Off the Silk Road The latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic and its effects on higher education and study abroad, written by Benjy Renton, Digital Director at The Middlebury Campus in Middlebury, Vermont. Page: Feed: --- ## [On Engagement and a Healthy Democracy](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/on-engagement-and-a-healthy-democracy) _2024-11-09 · Benjy Renton_ Why we must continue to engage across communities and strengthen our information ecosystem ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — May 21](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-may-14a) _2021-05-23 · Benjy Renton_ America progresses on the return to normalcy as vaccination rates are up, case rates are down and many have put the pandemic behind them. Access and equity remain key in the vaccine rollout. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — May 14](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-may-89c) _2021-05-16 · Benjy Renton_ In a turning point, the CDC abruptly reverses mask guidance for fully vaccinated individuals while vaccination rates lag in many communities. Tens of millions of Americans still lack vaccine access. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — May 7](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-may) _2021-05-09 · Benjy Renton_ As vaccinations decline, states ramp up incentives to increase vaccination rates. President Biden sets a new goal to vaccinate 70% of adults by July 4 while the world grapples with a vaccine shortage. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — April 30](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-april-edf) _2021-05-02 · Benjy Renton_ As India battles the world's worst epidemic, the U.S. has begun shipments of critical supplies. Vaccinations in the U.S. continue to lag in more vulnerable communities and hesitancy persists. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — April 23](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-april-d9c) _2021-04-25 · Benjy Renton_ The J&J vaccine pause is lifted, the pace of vaccinations has slowed and the U.S. may be hitting the vaccine enthusiasm frontier. A shift in distribution is needed to increase access/combat hesitancy. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — April 16](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-april-ddd) _2021-04-18 · Benjy Renton_ As vaccine open season approaches, parts of the U.S. show signs of hitting possible "vaccine walls." With the J&J vaccine paused, it is more critical for communities to reach vulnerable populations. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — April 9](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-april-5e7) _2021-04-11 · Benjy Renton_ America's vaccine supply problem has now morphed into a demand one, as some states face a vaccine surplus and Michigan confronts a surge. Some colleges are requiring vaccines for the fall semester. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — April 2](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-april) _2021-04-04 · Benjy Renton_ The U.S. faces the possibility of "impending doom" as variants take hold, driven by younger age groups. While vaccinations will win in the end, the next few weeks are critical to contain a surge. ## [Zuverlässiges Hosting, Domains, Server (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/Yt49bAfuFepH) _2021-04-04 · **Sponsored**_ Zuverlässige Infrastruktur, niedrige Preise und skalierbare Server für deinen Webauftritt. ## [Where We Stand with Covid-19 — March 26](https://offthesilkroad.substack.com/p/where-we-stand-with-covid-19-march-fa3) _2021-03-28 · Benjy Renton_ A fourth surge is possible among the younger and largely unvaccinated population, as nearly 72% of Americans 65+ have received at least 1 dose. Biden now promises 200 million shots in 100 days.