Masks will only be required in USC research and instructional spaces, which include classrooms, in medical facilities and in on-campus public transportation, effective Feb. 22, according to an email sent by the university Monday.
The university still supports voluntary masking in all other areas. All forms of university testing, wastewater monitoring and daily campus tracking will continue, according to the email.
The announcement came after the university’s alert level was at the lowest possible alert level last week. The university's COVID-19 dashboard showed "a dramatically reduced presence of COVID-19 within our campus community," according to the email.
The university reported 1,003 active cases of COVID-19 on campus on Jan. 25. On Feb. 1, it reported 410. The latest update by the university, as of Feb. 15, and following a decline in cases, reported 60 active cases.
The email said the change was "consistent with this data" and "in alignment" with this data and shifts from a pandemic, broad public health focus to an endemic, personal health focus.
“We believe this update to our policy allows each of us to exercise good judgement consistent with our individual personal health goals and supported by institutional policy,” the email said.