Category: Health

Latest updates on Health topics

Health Advisory — Prevention of Respiratory Illness
Published Last Updated

Current CDC data on COVID-19 has demonstrated that individuals who are unvaccinated have a six-times greater risk of illness than vaccinated counterparts; and have a 11-times greater risk of death. Within the USC community, unvaccinated individuals have a 2-4 times greater risk of infection. Unfortunately, since late October, positivity rates have increased each week in both LA County and in the campus populations.

Last week, (week 10 since move-in) there were 69 positive cases, (0.21% positivity rate among students, 0.62% among faculty and staff).

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8/23 Nasal Swab Testing; Other Testing Updates
Published Last Updated

As of this week, USC Student Health is re-introducing nasal swab as a method for collecting samples for COVID-19 testing. Nasal swab appointments are available through MySHR (Monday-Friday until 3:30 PM) at Jefferson Lot and Pardee Marks locations. Please refer to the Pop Testing Hours and Locations page for updated information.

Thank you to our community — 27,000 tests were administered this past week, and there was less than 0.5% positivity among students — much lower than in the general population (3.52% is the current positivity rate for Los Angeles County). Your participation in our vaccine program, reaching above 91% for fully vaccinated among students, faculty, and staff, has also made the opening of the fall semester safer for everyone.

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8/19 COVID-19 Testing Reminders ahead of Start of Classes on August 23
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As you are preparing for the first week of the fall semester classes starting on August 23, please read the following reminders. FOR ALL STUDENTS: Your Trojan Check will require that you have completed a COVID-19 test within the past 7 days in order to enter campus.

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7/15 – Health Alert: Indoor Masking Required, Effective Immediately
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In alignment with the LA County Department of Public Health Public Health Officer Order announced today, USC is now requiring masking indoors for all individuals in campus facilities, including vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, to protect yourself and others from transmission.

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6/29 – Masking Policy Updates
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June 29, 2021 We are writing to give you an update on our masking policy. On Wednesday, we will begin teaching some classes in person during our second summer session and are continuing to plan for a full return to in-person activities on our campuses this Fall, with our undergraduates returning in mid-August and most…

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6/16 – Restart Update and Vaccine Policy Update
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June 16, 2021 Dear Colleagues, As the state continues to relax pandemic restrictions, many of you have asked if there is a specific date when USC will return to normal operations. While we are ramping up in-person activities throughout the summer and preparing to welcome students back to campus in August, the simple answer is that there…

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5/6 – Health Advisory on COVID-19 and Advancing into the Yellow Tier
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May 6, 2021 TO:      USC Faculty and University Staff FR:       Sarah Van Orman, MD, MMM, Chief Health Officer, USC Student Health                Division Chief of College Health, Keck School of Medicine of USC             Deona Willes, MPH, CLS, Executive Director of USC Environmental Health and Safety RE:       Health Advisory on COVID-19 and Advancing into…

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4/27- Vaccination and Testing Update
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April 27, 2021 Dear Trojans, I’m proud that our community is leading the way in vaccination efforts in Los Angeles. As of this week, USC has directly administered more than 67,000 COVID-19 vaccination doses to our patients, faculty, staff, and students, and we have supported the delivery of over one million doses in our community…

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4/13 – Update on CDC/FDA-recommended pause on J&J/Janssen vaccine
Published Last Updated

April 13, 2021—Following the CDC/FDA announcement of April 13, the USC Student Health vaccinations scheduled at the Lyon Center for April 15 and 16 will now be switched from J&J/Janssen to Pfizer first doses.  Patients are advised to prioritize their schedules to receive a second dose given 21 days after the first dose; this may…

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4/7- COVID-19 Early Spring Update
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April 7, 2021 The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has recently updated its advisory regarding travel, in light of the County’s recent reclassification to the less restrictive Orange Tier in the State of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy: Travelers who are fully vaccinated, meaning 2 weeks have passed after their second dose for Pfizer or…

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