Announcements

9/16 Flu Vaccine Requirement for Students

All USC students taking in-person classes or living in university-owned residences in Fall 2020 are required to complete immunization for influenza by November 1. Students living in off-campus residences and taking classes remotely are also strongly encouraged to get a flu vaccine. Students returning to in person classes in Spring 2021 will be required to show proof of vaccination before they will be permitted on campus.

September and October are optimal times for receiving the flu vaccine, as it takes approximately 2 weeks for your immune system to create antibodies for protection. Don’t delay; if you have an opportunity to get vaccinated for flu, take it.

9/17-9/21 Testing Location Change Due to Air Quality

Due to air quality conditions in Los Angeles County, surveillance testing appointments at Pop Testing locations (UPC and HSC) for Thursday, Sept. 17 - Friday, Sept. 18, and again for Monday, Sept. 21, have been moved indoors to the Galen Center, 3400 Figueroa Street. Symptomatic and illness testing will continue at Engemann Plaza, but moved to the adjacent Jefferson Parking Lot space.

Smoke Advisory Health Alert 9/10

The L.A. Dept. of Public Health advises that “If you can see smoke, soot, or ash, or you can smell smoke, pay attention to your immediate environment and take precautions to safeguard your health.” Smoke and ash contribute to unhealthy air quality and can cause burning eyes, runny nose, scratchy throat, headaches, and respiratory illnesses. In people with sensitive conditions, it can cause difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing, fatigue, and chest pain. If you have heart or lung disease and/or experience any symptoms beyond these listed above or which are drastically worse, such as chest tightening or shortness of breath, you should see immediate health attention. Learn more from the USC Environmental Health and Safety office.

8/24 Community Health Advisory

For students who remain on or near campus in shared living arrangements, we strongly advise you to act with caution and strictly follow all guidelines for physical distancing (6 ft.), avoiding gatherings with other outside your home, wearing face coverings around others to protect against respiratory droplets, and proceed with high adherence to hand hygiene and frequent surface contact cleaning. It is strongly recommended that students in the vicinity of USC, especially those living with housemates or suite mates, should test weekly through the Pop Testing program. All students on USC Housing lists will receive a reminder email to this effect. Personally identifiable information is kept as private patient information by our contact tracing team.

Update on Fall 2020 Tuition Invoice – Student Health Insurance Plan Billing

Due to the current disruptions Covid-19, early academic year start, and campus-based populations, we are updating you with information related to the charges for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) that will be reflected in your Fall 2020 tuition statement.

Student Health announces “Pop Testing” for Covid-19

USC Student Health is initiating population testing (“Pop. Testing”) of COVID-19 with the external company, Color, to begin the week of August 3, 2020. The ongoing testing is part of the University’s overall testing strategy to identify, isolate, contact trace, and contain new infections. Collection will consist of a self-collected nasal swab, under the observation of a health professional, and later, through unobserved self-collection. Results will be available in 1-3 days. Check your USC email for a message from (support@color.com) if you are recommended to participate in testing.

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