Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources | University of South Florida

COVID-19 Vaccines

We strongly encourage vaccines, including boosters, as they are our most reliable means of stopping the spread of COVID-19. All of USF’s faculty, staff, and students are now eligible for the vaccine and boosters, therefore if someone chooses not to be vaccinated, they are assuming a significant risk for the community and themselves.

USF Health continues to offer vaccines and boosters at the Morsani Clinic (13330 USF Laurel Drive). Faculty and staff can make an appointment by emailing covidvaccine@usf.edu. The Morsani Clinic also accepts walk-ins during specific times. Established USF Health patients can make a vaccine appointment through MyChart.

Student Health Services on all three USF campuses offers the vaccine and boosters to students for no cost/low-cost medical services covered by student fees. Complete an intake form or call 813-974-2331 for an appointment. More information on vaccine availability and clinic hours is available here.

The vaccine and booster minimizes the possibility that students face any disruption to their studies or social activities, and employees won’t have their teaching, research or university work interrupted. Please contact vaccine-info@usf.edu with any questions about the vaccines.

COVID-19 Case, Exposure, or Symptom Reporting

Beginning Jan. 3, 2022, COVID-19 symptoms or positive test results should no longer be reported to assesscovid@usf.edu as this inbox will be retired. Anyone with symptoms or who may have been exposed should get tested. Positive test results will be communicated by the testing site to the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). Similar to other infectious diseases, FDOH will only contact the university if they believe any particular measures need to be taken to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

Students with symptoms or who test positive are encouraged to seek medical attention from Student Health Services (Tampa campus) or the Wellness Center (St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses). Any student testing positive should notify their professors immediately. Faculty are encouraged to accommodate ill students as best they can. Employees testing positive or who are directly exposed to a positive case should notify their supervisors immediately. Please contact your HR department to discuss available leave options.  Additional guidance is available through USF HR.

When faculty members or supervisors are informed of a positive case, they do not need to take further action, such as reporting that information to a central university source, because it will already have been shared with the Florida Department of Health at the time of the positive test result. However, USF Human Resources is available to assist supervisors or employees navigate related issues, such as sick leave or administrative leave policies.

Isolation Procedures
Any student testing positive must isolate in accordance with guidance from the Florida Department of Health and should notify their professors immediately. Residential students will be asked to return home for the recommended isolation period. Capacity for emergency isolation spaces on the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses is very limited and reserved for residential students who are unable to safely return home.

Employees testing positive must isolate, per guidance from the Florida Department of Health, for at least five days – if tested negative on day five and asymptomatic – or for ten days if not tested negative and should notify their supervisors immediately. Supervisors should discuss with employees if they will be on leave or if remote work is an option. More guidance for supervisors and employees is available through USF Human Resources.

Quarantine Procedures
Unvaccinated individuals who have been directly exposed to a positive case may be directed by guidance from the Florida Department of Health to quarantine for five days — if tested negative on day five — or for 10 days if not tested. The university cannot accommodate exposed unvaccinated individuals who need to be quarantined. Fully vaccinated individuals (boosted or within six months of the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or within two months of Johnson & Johnson) who are exposed do not need to quarantine unless they are symptomatic and directed to do so.

Masks
USF expects masks to be worn when indoors, especially in a crowded setting.

Testing
USF continues to offer directed and voluntary COVID-19 testing for students through Student Health Services and for employees at the USF Morsani Clinic on the Tampa campus.  Testing for students and employees is available at the Wellness Centers on the St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses. Student Health Services will bill insurance for testing, however you may still access testing even if you do not have insurance. USF Health will bill insurance and the employee being tested. Testing is also available through county sites operated by the Florida Department of Health and private facilities. More information is available here.

International travel for business and study abroad is permitted.  Travelers should be aware that the COVID-19 situation remains fluid and that each country may have different rules and expectations.  Travelers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with various country requirements, including requirements for returning to the United States from international destinations.

The USF Global Risk Assessment Committee, which was in place prior to the pandemic, will consider COVID-19 related conditions when reviewing requests for student-related international travel to high-risk destinations. The COVID-19 Task Force will no longer review travel requests. For more information and the latest updates, please visit USF World.