There's another spike in the number of coronavirus cases at USC and almost all of them among students living off-campus.
USC officials have identified 104 new cases this week. They found 43 others last week.
But that is not necessarily a bad thing to uncover new cases of COVID-19 because some students may not realize they have the virus.
Dr. Sarah Van Orman, with USC Student Health, attributes the spike in cases to two things: students returning to their off-campus housing to start the fall semester and because they’re testing more students.
Just earlier this week, USC officials were alarmed about the outbreak of COVID-19 cases in off-campus housing.
It was reported "an "alarming" spike of 43 coronavirus cases confirmed in off-campus housing facilities, along with 100 students in quarantine due to possible exposure to COVID-19. According to Dr. Sarah Van Orman, head of USC Student Health, 14 cases were identified through general population testing among students not showing any symptoms, while 29 more were confirmed through contact tracing and testing of people showing symptoms or who were exposed to the illness," a City News Service story reported.
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING CORONAVIRUS CASES
Orman tells KNX 1070 News they’ve found only three cases among students living on campus because very few students actually live on campus right now and almost all classes are being held online.
They’re also telling students to limit their contact to their own households and don’t go to small gatherings especially ones where everyone is eating and drinking together.
The Daily Trojan said Wednesday on social media, three students tested positive for COVID-19 - the first cases in USC housing.
"Two students from Cale and Irani residential colleges and one student from Century Apartments tested positive for COVID-19, Dr. Kimberly Tilley confirmed Wednesday. These are the first cases in @USCHousing," Daily Trojan tweeted.
"The students are currently in self-isolation off campus, @USCHousing announced in an email to residents and employees Wednesday. @studenthealthsc is currently in the process of contacting those who were exposed," Daily Trojan tweeted.
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