University of Southern California reports "alarming" increase in Covid-19 cases

More than 100 USC students are now in a 14-day quarantine because of coronavirus exposures.

Sarah Van Orman, USC’s chief student health officer, says that students who remain on or near campus in shared living arrangements are strongly advised to strictly follow physical distancing guidelines, continue to wear face coverings, avoid gatherings outside their home and continue with diligent hand washing and frequent cleaning of common surface areas including doorknobs, light switches and sinks.

“While no students have been hospitalized to this point, we all need to work together to protect those in our community who may be at higher risk of severe disease and prevent serious health outcomes for all,” Van Orman says. “Your role in containing, or conversely, accelerating the rapid spread of Covid-19, can mean the difference between safely returning to a modified ‘new normal,’ or having a prolonged period of remote-only academic experience and closed facilities.”

Van Orman also stressed that students living in shared living arrangements should not permit visitors who do not live in the premises.

“The risks each housemate decides to take (not wearing face coverings, going to gatherings, traveling to other parts of the region and country) will also become the rest of the household’s risk; very quickly this becomes our entire community’s risk,” she says.

Van Orman “strongly recommends that students in the vicinity of USC, especially those living with housemates or suite mates, should test weekly for coronavirus.