Now that vaccines and effective treatments are approved and widely available, and there is a low incidence of the coronavirus, the university can lighten the prevention practices and return to more pre-COVID-19 operations. Faculty, staff, and students should continue to self-monitor for symptoms.

It is recognized that the other variants are highly contagious, and the COVID vaccine is strongly recommended for everyone.

Triggers

• A reliable vaccine or highly effective treatment is approved and widely available.
• Herd immunity is significantly increased due to natural antibodies, vaccines, or treatments that increase immunity.
• The spread of the virus is low on campus and in the community.
• Positive cases are extremely low (0-3% of the total USC Aiken population—excludes online programs), and regional medical facilities are operating below capacity.

Institutional Operations

• As long as approved, highly effective vaccines or treatments are widely available, most prevention practice mandates can be eased. Masks are optional but recommended for those not vaccinated or with compromised immunity.*
• Masks are also recommended indoors whenever social distancing is not possible.*
• Classrooms at full capacity.
• Shared office spaces are allowed.
• Dining and residential activities resume. Campus residences will continue to have rooms available for students needing on-campus isolation.
• Athletic practice and competition schedules resume, with changes possible as per recommendations by NCAA.
• Meetings may resume in person; TEAMS meetings will continue to be available.
• Hygienic cleaning and sanitation efforts by housekeeping staff will return to pre-covid levels. Cleaning supplies will remain available in classrooms.
• University will continue to do contract tracing and report cases to DHEC. All faculty, staff, and students who test positive should report it to the COVID Coordinators.
• Those with positive tests must isolate for a minimum of 10 days with symptoms improving and no fever for at least 24 hours.
• Those who have not been vaccinated and have been in direct contact with someone who tested positive will self-quarantine for 7 or 10 days, depending on the results of a day 5 COVID-19 test. Those individuals are expected to wear a face covering when in the company of others.
• Those who have been vaccinated and exposed to someone with COVID-19 should monitor for symptoms and get tested 3 to 5 days after exposure.

*Masks may be required in indoor spaces for extra protection if local, state, or national conditions warrant, even if campus numbers and conditions are in this level.

The university and the surrounding communities can operate more normally in high-density environments.

Institutions are open and protective measures are actively in place. The threat of an outbreak remains, but the virus is lower, and testing and contact tracing are robust to allow some policies to be relaxed. Vaccines are wildly available.

The university can provide:

• testing for all students and employees who have been exposed or are asymptomatic.
• testing for all student-athletes and students living in dorms, as needed.
• adequate isolation for students living on campus who are positive and for those who are positive and symptomatic.

Triggers

Positive cases are very low (<3-5% of the total USC Aiken population--excludes online programs: Palmetto College, RN to BSN, and MBA), and regional medical facilities are operating below capacity.

Institutional Operations

• Take everyday precautions outlined by the university and by CDC.
• Continue classes as planned: face-to-face, blended/hybrid, and online/remote.
• Those with positive tests must isolate for a minimum of 10 days with no increase in symptoms or fever during the last three days.
• Those in contact with someone who tested positive will self-quarantine for 7 or 10 days, depending on the results of a day 5 COVID-19 test. Those individuals are expected to wear a face-covering when in the company of others.
• Facility restrictions promote social distancing, hygiene, and wearing masks.
• Shared offices allowed appropriate distancing and other measures.
• Physical distancing, face covering, and frequent hand washing may be required.
• Mandatory testing of symptomatic individuals in housing and student-athletes.

Institutions and communities are operating with moderate-low confirmed cases of COVID-19. Institutions are open though USC Aiken’s protective measures are actively in place. The underlying threat of outbreak remains, but prevalence of the virus is moderate to low and testing and contact tracing capacities are robust enough to serve the institution.

• The university and geographic area can provide testing to students, faculty, and staff who have been exposed and/or who are symptomatic.
• The university can provide testing for all student-athletes weekly, and provide testing on demand for faculty, staff, and students.
• The university can provide adequate isolation for students living on campus that have tested positive.

Triggers

The number of positive cases is increasing, but less than 9% of campus population is positive or presumed positive (5-9% positive)

Institutional Operations

• Instruction is a mix of in-person and remote instruction with online options for in-person classes (blended) where practical.
• Some students and faculty will not be able to return to campus, and accommodations should be put in place to enable continued academic progress and employment.
• Easing of facility restrictions, rigorous cleaning and PPE protocols.
• Low-density instruction maintaining appropriate distancing.
• Continue limiting access to specialized facilities (labs, studios, practice rooms) and limit the number of individuals simultaneously using wellness center, bookstore, Gaming Room, offices, The Station, Starbucks, and Dining Hall.
• Provide take away dining and in-person dining options with appropriate distancing.
• Shared offices allowed with necessary distancing and other measures.
• Deployment of enforced PPE use, screening, contact tracing, and/or selective quarantining/self-isolation.
• Athletic schedules reviewed and caution taken. Increase the testing of athletes if possible.
• Masks worn by students in a class, faculty are wearing masks or shields in class. The staff wears masks except in private offices.
• Continue to encourage teleconferencing instead of face-to-face meetings.

The university is open but may request that employees and students stay home for one or several days, or may put greater prevention steps in place which may include greater limitations on meeting sizes, increased PPE use, and elevated precautions. High risk individuals may be asked to restrict their presence on campus.

Triggers

• The university is at capacity for being able to provide adequate isolation for students living on campus who are testing positive.
• COVID-19 infection in the student population becomes more severe (more cases of COVID-19 risks, pneumonia, respiratory and renal distress).
• The number of positive cases is increasing, but fewer than 14% of campus population (excludes online programs: Palmetto College, RN to BSN, and MBA) is positive or presumed positive (10-14% positive).
• The university is unable to access, analyze and track data effectively enough to inform key decisions.
• Month over month increase in confirmed cases across all sectors of the university.

Institutional Operations

• Instruction is primarily remote, though, with permission of the dean, faculty may continue to deliver material in empty classrooms equipped with cameras.
• Departments need to deploy contingency plans to provide instruction if faculty become ill.
• In-person instruction is limited to clinical/practicum and research activities that are difficult to conduct remotely. These classes may not include more than ten students, including the instructor (<10). Permission is needed from the Provost for any form of in-person instruction.
• Enforced PPE use, screening, contact tracing, and/or selective quarantining/self-isolation is deployed.
• Dining services shift exclusively to go options. No meals served in the dining halls.
• Limited access to facilities, including the use of shifts for employees on campus.
• No shared offices for faculty/staff/graduate students or anywhere a minimum of six feet between desks is not possible.
• All meetings shift to electronic conferencing; TEAMS is preferred.
• Visitors not allowed in residence halls.
• Athletics will modify schedules and practices.
• Masks or face coverings required in all areas of campus, except personal offices.

Stay-at-home orders are in place, schools and non-essential businesses are closed and individuals are expected to practice self-isolation. OR the community and institution conditions make it imperative to shift to essential employees only on campus and shift to online/remote instruction.

Triggers

• The university cannot provide adequate testing, contact tracing, or care for students who have known exposures and/or who are symptomatic.
• The university cannot provide adequate isolation for students living on campus who are positive and symptomatic.
• ≥15% of the university population (excludes online programs: Palmetto College, RN to BSN, and MBA) is positive or presumed positive.
• Regional medical centers and hospitals are at or beyond capacity to provide medical assistance to the community.
• Month to month increase across all university sectors.

Institutional Operations

• The university’s essential personnel are on campus. All other employees are working from home and practicing self-isolation. Some essential personnel may be working in shifts.
• Access to campus (including buildings) is restricted.
• Telework is the preferred choice for as many employees as possible under state/local/university mandates. Leave and Furloughs may be deployed for those who cannot work from home.
• All business meetings are held electronically through video conferencing sites; TEAMS is preferred.
• Instruction, advising, and student learning support are provided remotely.
• Housing and in-person academic programs are predominately closed and canceled. Students who cannot return home or have special conditions may petition to remain in university housing.
• All dining services are highly restricted and only “Take-Away” options for remaining residents.
• Athletics suspended.