All USC students arriving for the 2021-2022 academic year—
• Pre-Travel: Test for COVID-19 prior to traveling to Los Angeles to ensure you are should travel. You are not required to upload test results into MySHR. If you test positive, delay your travel plans and move-in. Laboratory-based NAAT tests (nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR tests) are recommended over rapid antigen tests for higher sensitivity. Information about types of COVID-19 tests are available from the LA County Dept of Public Health.
• Upon Arrival: Schedule a test with USC Student Health’s Pop Testing program, ideally on day 3 through day 5 after arrival to Los Angeles. Saturday testing appointments begin starting August 21. Schedule your test in advance of August 23, when the testing schedule is expected to be fully booked. At this initial test, please schedule a weekly test; it can be on a regular day/time that is convenient for you. Take-home saliva kits and on-site nasal swab options (swabs begin August 23) are available to you through MySHR (My Student Health Records) portal, your main health hub for making appointments for medical or mental health care; sending secure messages (to the Advice Nurse for medical concerns, to an Advocate for individuals who have experienced sexual assault or gender-based harm); seeing lab results; and uploading your vaccine documentation.
• Hygiene, Health and Safety for Students: If you have not already completed this online module, please do so. This is required for your Trojan Check to allow you to access campus. It is important that you become familiar with any new onset of symptoms (fully vaccinated individuals may experience only very mild symptoms) and isolate if you feel sick.
• INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you have not yet uploaded your vaccine documentation into MySHR, please follow instructions to do so. Make an appointment to complete necessary vaccinations and titers (blood work) during “Immuchella,” August 16-27. A reminder, if you are taking a COVID-19 and/or other vaccines, please remember you should have your TB test before you are vaccinated, both can be done on the same day.
Wear your face covering indoors or as directed at gatherings, maintain good hand hygiene, and physically distance 6 ft. or more when possible. Eat outdoors when dining with others, if possible. We can create a safer community when we all do our part to protect each other’s health.