Dear USF Community,
Welcome back! The semester kicked off on Saturday as we welcomed our first-year students to the Hilltop. Orientation continues this week in advance of the first day of classes next week. It has been wonderful to see so much activity and positive energy on campus. We are looking forward to welcoming our returning students back this weekend.
As we begin the semester, we wanted to once again share several important reminders.
Symptom Monitoring
As a member of the USF community, you should self-monitor for COVID symptoms and not come to campus if you are symptomatic, even if you have a negative test. You no longer need to complete the daily online Dons Health Check. Although completion of the health check is no longer required or tied to your One Card, you should still monitor your symptoms and report positive COVID test results through the positive intake reporting form. You may also contact covidtracing@usfca.edu and let them know you tested positive.
Face Coverings
USF continues to require masks indoors in campus buildings, with the exception of the Koret Health and Recreation Center (where masks are highly encouraged). Student Life is providing N95 masks to high-risk individuals such as unvaccinated faculty, students, and staff, and KN95 and surgical masks continue to be provided to the schools and college as supplies allow. N95s for unvaccinated individuals, KN95s, and surgical masks are still available at the Public Safety Lone Mountain (LM) Gate, UC Fifth Floor, and 101 Howard security desk.
Fall Testing Schedule
COVID testing through GoHealth for students, faculty, and staff will be available on Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m., and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in University Center 501. To register, please visit HPS COVID-19 Resources.
Students, faculty, and staff reporting symptoms and who are identified as close contacts will receive instructions for testing from the COVID tracing team. Drop-in hours for symptomatic testing, close-contact testing, and end-of-isolation testing is offered on the fifth floor of University Center. Students with approved exemptions are required to test weekly at GoHealth testing and have received additional information.
Vaccines and Boosters
Students should submit their COVID-19 vaccine and/or booster records through Med+Proctor. Faculty and staff should update this information in Workday by following the upload instructions. Find a COVID-19 vaccine or booster clinic near you.
Please continue to wear a mask indoors, self-monitor for symptoms, do not come to USF if you are not feeling well, and report any positive test results at covidtracing@usfca.edu. Stay up-to-date on COVID guidance by visiting USF Together and by downloading the new USF mobile app.
Vaccination Clinics
Health Promotion Services is hosting two walk-in clinics on campus in partnership with the USF Clinic. Students, faculty, and staff will be able to receive a COVID vaccine or booster (if eligible) on the following dates and times. No appointment necessary.
- Wednesday, Aug. 17 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. in UC 402/403
- Friday, Aug. 19 from 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. in UC 503
Students will also be able to receive Hepatitis B and MMR vaccines as well as a TB test if needed to complete their immunization requirements.
Contact Tracing
An abridged version of USF’s contact tracing procedures is available on the testing and tracing page of USF Together.
We know that at times a member of our community may be made aware of a positive case prior to covidtracing@usfca.edu being notified. If a member of the community discloses to you that they have tested positive for COVID and they did not test at one of USF’s on-campus testing clinics, please refer them to covidtracing@usfca.edu so we can work through our protocols and send the proper notifications. When a student tests positive and confirms which classes they have attended during their 48-hour infectious period, faculty members and fellow classmates will receive communication from a member of the COVID tracing team. Communication may be delayed depending on when the team receives the information about the positive result or if someone had symptoms before testing positive. We can all do our part by not coming to campus if we are not feeling well.
Close Contacts and Positive Tests
In the event that you are informed that you are a close contact of a COVID-positive individual — whether or not that individual is a member of the USF community — please take the following steps:
- If you are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including a booster if you are eligible, and are asymptomatic, you are not required to quarantine and may fully participate in campus activities.
- It is recommended that you test on or after the fifth day following exposure, unless symptoms present earlier.
- If you are not up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, you should quarantine and limit contact with others until you can be tested on or after the fifth day following exposure, unless symptoms present earlier.
- In both scenarios, wear a well-fitted mask and contact covidtracing@usfca.edu with any questions.
In the event that you test positive, please follow these steps:
- Complete the positive intake reporting form or contact covidtracing@usfca.edu and let them know you tested positive.
- Isolate away from others who are not COVID positive. Upon receiving your positive result, the COVID tracing team will do an intake to determine your length of isolation. They will provide guidance on isolation procedures and when you are eligible to test out of isolation. The isolation period is currently 10 days with the ability to be released on or after your fifth day of isolation if you receive a negative test. You will also be provided information on your infectious window and how to notify those you have had close contact with.
- If you are a residential student, the housing office will be in touch with you to coordinate your isolation location and resources.
Visitors
All visitors to USF are expected to follow our community guidelines. Visitors must complete symptom monitoring and avoid coming to campus if they do not feel well. Visitors must wear face coverings while indoors in any university building regardless of vaccination status. To ensure clear communication of these guidelines, the group that is sponsoring a visitor or event (e.g., academic departments, admissions, athletics, development events, student housing, etc.) is responsible for ensuring that their visitors understand visitor expectations. Business units that host visitors are being asked to build these visitor expectations into their existing workflows (e.g., SEM will build visitor expectations into their booking site, residence hall desks will build into their check-in policies and protocols, athletics will build the process into their ticket sales, etc.). Vaccinated guests must show they are up-to-date with vaccinations prior to coming to campus. With permission from the COVID Management Team, some events may allow unvaccinated guests to attend with a negative test. This needs to receive prior approval by emailing the COVID Management Team.
Guest policies will stay in place for residential buildings. Separate communication is being sent to residential students. Visitors will be allowed to help with move-in.
Monkeypox Advisory
Finally, we remind you that USF is following current CDC and state and local DPH guidance related to suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox. For more information, please review the Aug. 2 USF community email regarding monkeypox.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and for all you are doing to keep our community safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
COVID Management Team