With the approach of Spring Break, USC Student Health advises students, faculty, and staff to remember best practices for reducing risk of potential COVID-19 transmission through travel-related exposure. PRE-TRAVEL: Do no travel if you have symptoms, or have been exposed to COVID-19, within the past 10 days. PRE-TRAVEL: Testing* before travel is recommended, the best…
Category: Latest
Latest Updates and University Messages
Medicines to Treat COVID-19
1/19/23—The LA County Dept. of Public Health has released updated information about treatments for COVID-19. Treatments can help you from getting very sick, and may also help you feel better sooner. In addition, early evidence suggests that treatments may make people test negative sooner and lower the risk of developing long COVID. People with symptoms…
Update to COVID-19 Isolation Criteria and other Key Health Reminders (1/3/23)
Review the *NEW* information related to masking when returning to classes and work; travel from China (PRC, Hong Kong, Macau) and isolation criteria for students.
Preparing for Holiday Parties
As you prepare to attend holiday gatherings at USC, please see this safety tip sheet prepared by USC Environmental Health and Safety on ways to have a safer event when rates of transmission of respiratory illness is higher in the local area.
Update: Flowflex tests extend date
The FDA has extended the shelf-life the Flowflex COVID-19 antigen kits distributed by USC Student Health. The current lot in circulation, LOT: COV201007, with a printed expiration date of January 2023, has been extended to October 2023. See the full list from the FDA uscsthealth.info/covidtest-shelflife.
Pre-Travel COVID-19 Testing
For USC students who need testing to board international flights, please know that testing hours through the Pop Testing (PCR) program currently runs from Monday-Friday; testing is not available on weekends.
Results typically return within 48 hours, but this is not a guaranteed timeframe. Testing offered at USC’s PCR program is designed for screening and diagnosis but not travel services.
Students who have rush needs to meet pre-boarding testing requirements for international flights may need to engage external, commercial testing services (ex: Curative, Testing DX, Hummingbird, 911 COVID Testing); rush charges may not be covered by insurance.
Preparing for Seasonal Holiday Travel & Gatherings (11/18)
Pick up antigen testing kits for COVID-19: these can be obtained at no cost at the Jefferson Lot testing site, and the Pappas Quad testing site, all students and all employees are eligible to pick up kits. Students may also obtain kits from the CSC desks in USC Housing.
Test pre-and post-exposure: Travel increases risk of exposure, so use a test before traveling, and after arriving. Use a second test 24-48 hours later to confirm your negative status.
Get a flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster: If you have not yet received your immunizations, it is strongly recommended to get updated vaccinations for these illnesses before traveling and meeting with groups of friends and relatives.
It is strongly recommended that you wear a high-quality mask when you are in indoor public settings, including all public transit hubs. Indicators that are monitored by the Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health have tracked recent increased transmission in Los Angeles, prompting this upgraded recommendation for masking protection. Remembers the “three C’s”: closed indoor spaces with poor air flow, crowded settings, and settings where people are breathing talking or breathing heavily closely together.
Booster Vaccines for COVID-19
Recommendation from the LA County Dept of Public Health: Everyone 5 and older should get one fall updated (bivalent) booster at least 2 months after their last COVID-19 vaccine dose (either the final primary series dose or the last monovalent booster). This is regardless of how many boosters or which type of vaccine(s) they got in the…
What to know about rebound COVID-19
COVID-19 rebound is when people with COVID-19 get better, then begin to get symptoms 2-8 days after they have recovered. They may also test positive again. If your COVID-19 symptoms come back or get worse after you have ended isolation, you must isolate yourself from others again. You can end isolation for COVID-19 rebound 5…
Masking Update
9/23/22—As the COVID-19 case rate in Los Angeles County has dropped in community-level transmission, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has revised guidelines on mask requirements and recommendations.
Masks are required in health care settings (including the Engemann and Eric Cohen student health centers, COVID-19 testing sites, the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, USC Pharmacies, and other patient care settings on campus). They are also required for individuals who have COVID-19 (through day 10), or have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19 (for 10 days following exposure).
Masks are strongly recommended on all forms of public transit, including trains, buses, shuttle buses, and ride-shares. Masks are an individual preference in all other indoor public settings.