March 18, 2021
To USC Students, Faculty and Staff:
The current COVID-19 case rate continues to trend downward, and with Los Angeles County now in the less restrictive red tier, additional opportunities for in-person activities are now possible, in accordance with local guidelines.
There are some areas of activity that continue to pose higher risk of creating spread—including travel. We strongly urge all members of the community to be familiar with current recommendations if considering travel. After a very prolonged and difficult winter, we fully understand the desire to see family and friends for upcoming spring holiday celebrations. We urge our community to do so safely, so the downward trend is not reversed by transmission of the emerging COVID-19 variants and asymptomatic transmission.
- We strongly recommend students, faculty and staff delay travel and stay close to home to protect themselves and others from the virus, even if vaccinated. If proceeding with travel plans, please see the Domestic Travel Safety Guide prepared by EH&S. Be familiar with the following guidance:
- Travel locally, within a 120-mile radius from your place of residence. Travel to traditional spring break destinations outside of California have already increased positive cases in our student community.
- Get tested through the Pop Testing program, 1-3 days prior to travel and 3-5 days after return.
- Do not travel if your test is positive or if you have any symptoms. If you test positive upon return, you must isolate for a minimum of 10 days.
- For any travel outside of California, please plan for the 10-day quarantine, even if you have a negative COVID-19 test upon return.
- General questions may be directed to the COVID-19 hotline, 213-740-6291, or covid19@usc.edu.
Stay well and stay safe.
Sarah Van Orman, MD, MMM, FACHA
Chief Health Officer for USC Student Health
Division Chief for College Health, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Deona Willes, MPH, CLS
Executive Director, USC Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S)