USF Testing & Tracing — On Campus

The university may provide COVID-19 testing for students and employees that meet certain criteria. Employees also can work directly with their health care provider if they feel they need a COVID-19 test. Alternatively, employees may choose to access testing through a free city or county testing site.

Contact Tracing

The university is implementing contact tracing technologies, which give us the ability to trace the contacts of those testing positive for COVID-19 so that we can quickly prevent spread of the virus. Here is how contact tracing works:

  • If you test positive, we will speak with you to determine with whom at USF you came into contact so we can assess potential exposures.
  • If you have been exposed to, or come in contact with, an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, either at the university or elsewhere, a member of the Contact Tracing team will inform you of your next steps based on current public health guidance..
  • All personal information will be held strictly confidential. As required by law, the university may disclose the student/employee’s information to public health, school, and legal authorities charged with preventing or controlling communicable diseases.

CDC information On contact tracing

The following is an abridged version of our contract tracing and testing procedures for students and employees:

Unvaccinated / Not up-to-date vaccinated Residential Students

  • Student discloses symptoms: Testing information on campus provided. If negative, doesn’t need to quarantine, should continue to monitor symptoms; if positive, move to an isolation room for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance.
  • Student is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual: Will quarantine and self monitor symptoms for five days and test on the fifth day within  the timeframe provided by most recent public health guidance. If negative, student is released back to assigned room; if positive, they will be moved into isolation.
  • Student discloses positive COVID-19 test result: Move to on-campus isolation room for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance. Current guidance may be found here.

up-to-date vaccinated residential students

  • Student discloses symptoms: Testing information on campus provided. If negative, doesn’t need to quarantine, should continue to monitor symptoms; if positive, move to an isolation room for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance.
  • Student is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is asymptomatic: No quarantine, monitor for symptoms for  5  days from exposure. Test on day 5 day after exposure, test will be provided. Wear a well-fitting mask around others until 10 day.
  • Student is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is symptomatic: Test provided. If negative stay in assigned room and monitor symptoms; if positive, move to an isolation room for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance.
  • Student discloses positive COVID-19 test result: Move to on-campus isolation room for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance. Current guidance may be found here. This may be as few as 5 days if all criteria are met, or as many as 10 days.

Unvaccinated / Not up-to-date vaccinated non-residential students

  • Student discloses symptoms: Student quarantines at home, testing options provided. If negative, can return to campus after symptoms end.
  • Student is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is asymptomatic: Student must quarantine at home for 5 days since last contact and test on day 5 to be released from quarantine. Testing options will be provided. Students may only leave quarantine if no symptoms are present and have a negative test, wear a well-fitting mask around others until day 10. 
  • Student is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is symptomatic: Student must quarantine at home for 5 days since last contact and test on day 5 to be released from quarantine. Testing options will be provided. Students may only leave quarantine if no symptoms are present and have a negative test, wear a well-fitting mask around others until day 10.
  • Student discloses positive COVID-19 test result: Student isolates at home for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance. This may be as few as 5 days if all criteria are met, or as many as 10 days.

Up-to-date vaccinated non-residential students

  • Student discloses symptoms: Quarantine at home and monitor symptoms, test provided. If negative can return to campus after symptoms end.
  • Student is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is asymptomatic - No quarantine, monitor for symptoms for 10 days from exposure. Test on day 5 day after exposure, testing options will be provided. Wear a well-fitting mask around others until 10 day.
  • Student is close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is symptomatic: Quarantine at home, testing options provided. If negative, no longer needs to quarantine and can return to campus after symptoms end.
  • Student discloses positive COVID-19 test result: Student isolates at home for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance. This may be as few as 5 days if all criteria are met, or as many as 10 days.

Unvaccinated / not up-to-date vaccinated Faculty/Staff

  • Employee discloses symptoms: Isolate at home, get tested through own health provider* and other testing options provided, isolate until until test results. If negative, can return to campus after symptoms end.
  • Employee is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is asymptomatic: Employee must quarantine at home for 5 days since last contact and test on day 5 to be released from quarantine. Testing options will be provided. Employees may only leave quarantine if no symptoms are present and have a negative test, wear a well-fitting mask around others until day 10. Employees unable to get tested, or choose not to test, must quarantine for 10 days.
  • Employee is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is symptomatic: Employee must quarantine at home for 5 days since last contact and test on day 5 to be released from quarantine. Testing options will be provided. Employees may only leave quarantine if no symptoms are present and have a negative test, wear a well-fitting mask around others until day 10. Employees unable to get tested, or choose not to test, must quarantine for 10 days.
  • Employee reports a positive COVID-19 test: Employee isolates at home for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance. This may be as few as 5 days if all criteria are met, or as many as 10 days.

up-to-date vaccinated Faculty/Staff

  • Employee discloses symptoms: Quarantine at home, get tested through own health provider* and other testing options provided, quarantine until test results. If negative, can return to campus after symptoms end.
  • Employee is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is asymptomatic: Employees who are vaccinated with a primary series and booster eligible but NOT yet boosted are not required to quarantine at home and may come to campus if: A negative test is obtained 3-5 days after contact, wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days after contact, continue to have no symptoms.
  • Employee is a close contact of COVID-19+ individual and is symptomatic: Quarantine, get tested through your own health care provider* and other testing options are provided, remain in quarantine until test results are received. If negative, can return to campus after symptoms end.
  • Employee reports a positive COVID-19 test: Employee isolates at home for a time determined based on most recent public health guidance. This may be as few as 5 days if all criteria are met, or as many as 10 days.

    *If the employee was notified that they were a close contact of someone who tested positive on campus, the employee will have the option of having a test mailed to them. Both Kaiser Permanente and Anthem Blue Cross will continue to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing performed at one of their clinical sites at no cost to employees through employee health plans. Members should contact their provider to find out how to get tested and where testing is available.