COVID-19 Resource Center
Information, updates and support for the USC community
To notify the university of a case, please call 213-740-6291 or
email covid19@usc.edu
Spirit of a Trojan
“This is a defining moment for all of us and for the entire Trojan community. We are looking to the future; it is ours to build and to shape. I cannot wait to see you all in person.”
— President Carol L. Folt
Latest Updates
- Spring Semester and OmicronWe look forward to seeing our students back on our campuses. Although this beginning of 2022 coincides with a challenging phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are marshaling all our resources to make this a successful semester. Each of you — our students, faculty, and staff — has shown tremendous strength and resilience, and we are grateful to be part of a wonderful community rich in friendship and kindness. Given the distinct challenges of the Omicron variant, USC will add four additional days of remote learning, and we now plan to resume in-person instruction Monday, January 24. Our plan – similar to that of other universities in Southern California – is based on both the available resources and unique challenges here in Los Angeles.
- Updated Masking Guidance for Campus EnvironmentsPer these revised guidelines for workplaces, individuals on USC campus premises in locations where masking is required are now required to wear medical grade masks, which at minimum are surgical masks and may also include higher grade respirator masks (N95, KN95, or KF94). Campus premises where PPE is required include indoor common spaces, public areas, classrooms, libraries, offices, and laboratories (unless higher grade PPE is already specified). Faculty, staff, and students in clinical settings should follow guidance for health care settings as determined by the facility. If you are an employee who has been directed by USC Environmental Health and Safety to wear (and previously fit-tested for) a respirator mask as PPE for occupational safety, continue to wear this level of protection.
- Reminders—Testing for Spring 2022Peak access times for MySHR (to schedule testing) is expected to be highest on Monday, January 3 (and again on Monday, January 10 & Tuesday, January 18), from the morning through the afternoon. High access volume may result in system unavailability for some users. Accessing MySHR during the weekend, and evenings after 6 PM are recommended. If you have tested positive during Winter Break with results from outside of USC, please upload a photo or scan of the results into MySHR (in “upload documents”) and complete the contact tracing form. Uploading your positive result, or a photo of your home testing kit result, AND completing the contact tracing form will automatically exempt you from surveillance testing for 90 days once it is reviewed by our staff. This ensures your Trojan Check will permit you access to campus.
USC Heroes
Read how the Trojan family is going above and beyond to help each other and the community.
Staying Safe and Supporting Your Well-being
We encourage USC students, faculty and staff to stay safe when coming to campus and interacting with each other. Limit gatherings (especially involving food and drinks) and avoid travel, maintain a physical distance from others when possible (6 ft. or more). Learn about additional guidance that can keep you safe in your daily activities. Test if you may have had an exposure, and test after attending a gathering or returning from travel (days 3-5 after returning are recommended.) Wear a face covering to keep yourself and others safe from transmission. Vaccines are available at no cost, and are the best tools for protecting yourself and others from severe illness and hospitalization.
Stay connected with people in your support network, take a break by engaging in a mindfulness activity, exercise, or just a simple walk outside. Know that resources supporting the mental health of students are available through Student Health’s Counseling and Mental Health Services unit (part of the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine of USC). Additional campus offices offer assistance for USC students. Mental health programs for faculty and staff are available through the Center for Work and Family Life, and the Care for the Caregiver program is available to the health care workforce of Keck Medicine of USC.
3 Tips to Stay Healthy
Use healthy
hygiene practices
If you feel sick, stay home. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Cover your cough or sneeze. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Maintain a 6-foot/2-meter distance from others, and wear a face covering when encountering other people.
Monitor
your health
Monitor your health. If you feel sick, stay home and apart from others in your household. Contact your medical provider. See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) description of symptoms and the self-checker tool. If you are/have been on campus and test positive, notify the university at 213-740-6291.
Stay
informed
There is a lot of inaccurate information about COVID-19. Check with official sources for up-to-date information, including www.cdc.gov and publichealth.lacounty.gov. If you are in Los Angeles, you can sign up for city-wide emergency alerts at NotifyLA.org.
LEARN MORE
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
The L.A. County Department of Public Health is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to respond to COVID-19.
LEARN MORE
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) provides updated information about COVID-19 as it becomes available.
LEARN MORE
U.S. State Department
The U.S. State Department issued travel advisories related to COVID-19 for select countries.
Visit the U.S. State Department website
COVID-19 in the Community
USC has taken several significant actions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, similar to steps the city of Los Angeles and other local municipalities have announced.
We are continuing to monitor the rapidly evolving situation in light of information from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health about the community spread of the virus in the county.
The university’s leadership will continue to monitor the situation closely and will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
View the Daily Digest of COVID-19 Notifications.
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* For instructions on how to log in to USC Google G-Suite apps using your USC NetID, visit the ITS instruction page.