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 timeframe to test is 1-3 days prior to departure.
FOR YOUR TRIP: Have antigen test kits with you for your trip. Have a contingency plan (isolation, delay return) if you or someone in your group tests positive.
- If you are feeling symptomatic, test, and make plans to isolate for a minimum of 5 days. If you symptoms are resolving, re-test with an antigen test on day 6. If you test negative, you may leave isolation and resume activities (while masking through day 10).
POST-TRAVEL: Use an antigen test between days 3-5 of returning from travel (or if you are symptomatic, test immediately).
*ABOUT TESTS: PCR-based tests are the most reliable tests for people with or without symptoms but require 48 hours for results. PCR testing in the campuses (Pop Testing) is currently available through Student Health. You should not use a PCR if you have tested positive in the last 90 days. Antigen tests are rapid tests which produce results in 15-30 minutes. They are less reliable than laboratory-based tests (including PCR and NAATs), especially for people who do not have symptoms.
- A single, negative antigen test result does not rule out infection. To best detect infection, a negative antigen test should be repeated at least 48 hours apart (known as serial testing).
- Antigen kits may be picked up at the testing site locations at Engemann Plaza (UPC) and Pappas Quad (HSC)
See the USC Safety website for other helpful tips on going out safely.
