COVID-19 Vaccines: We strongly encourage vaccines, including boosters, as they are our most reliable means of stopping the spread of COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available on our campuses and at sites throughout Tampa Bay. All of USF’s faculty, staff and students are now eligible for the vaccine, therefore if someone chooses not to be vaccinated, they are assuming significant risk for the community and for themselves.
The vaccine 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 we need to take any particular measures 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 should notify their supervisors immediately. USF will not be extending the emergency sick leave beyond Dec. 31, 2021. Please contact your HR department to discuss available leave options.
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. It will already have been shared with the Florida Department of Health at the time of the positive test result.
Isolation: Any student testing positive must isolate, follow instructions from the Florida Department of Health and should notify their professors immediately. Housing will offer limited isolation spaces through the spring semester for residential students who are unable to safely return home or go off campus to isolate. Employees testing positive must isolate, follow instructions from the Florida Department of Health and should notify their supervisors immediately.
Quarantine procedures: Unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to a positive case may be directed by the Florida Department of Health to quarantine for seven days -- if tested negative on day six -- or for 10 days if not tested. The university cannot accommodate exposed unvaccinated individuals who need to be quarantined. Vaccinated individuals 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. Some people will choose to wear masks, others will not. Each individual’s decision should be respected.
Testing: We continue to offer voluntary COVID-19 testing for students and employees through Student Health Services and the USF Morsani Clinic on the Tampa campus, and the Wellness Centers on the St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee campuses. We will no longer offer free COVID-19 testing as it is covered under most insurance plans. Questions regarding the costs of testing should be directed to the facility from which you are requesting the test.
Meetings and Events: In-person meetings and events are permitted, though many units have found that meeting remotely, or offering a remote option, provides convenience and may increase participation.
Remote work: Employees are encouraged to work with their supervisors to design work structures that make the most sense based on the nature of work. Please continue to utilize our many resources from USF Human Resources: www.usf.edu/hr/safe-return.
Personal Protective Equipment and Cleaning Supplies: Face coverings, hand sanitizers and disinfectant cleaning supplies will be provided centrally, through the Facilities and Asset Management Information System (FAMIS), until supplies are exhausted. At that point, individual units should order and purchase these directly as needed.
International Travel: International travel for business and study abroad is permitted. USF does not require a COVID-19 vaccine, however other countries might in order to enter and participate in activities, use public transportation or dine in restaurants. Travelers should be aware that the COVID-19 situation remains fluid and that different countries will have different rules and expectations, including the possibility of sudden changes in vaccination requirements. The Global Risk Assessment Committee, which was in place prior to the pandemic, will consider COVID-19 related conditions when reviewing requests for international travel. The COVID-19 Task Force will no longer review these requests. For more information, please visit USF World.
Travelers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with various country requirements, including requirements for travelers returning to the United States from international destinations, as these rules change frequently. More information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is available here.
Healthy Habits: Every member of our university community is encouraged to maintain the healthy behaviors that enabled us to keep case numbers low on our campuses. Always stay at home when you don’t feel well. Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds with warm soapy water whenever moving from one place to another. If you are unvaccinated, consider avoiding large crowds and wearing a mask when indoors.