USC: Spring Semester Might Start Online Due To COVID Surge

LOS ANGELES, CA — Surging COVID-19 cases are once again playing havoc with colleges across the nation, and USC on Monday acknowledged that spring classes could be impacted by the pandemic.

University officials acknowledged that a temporary remote-learning start to the spring semester is a possibility. The goal, according to USC officials, is an in-person semester. Such plans have been upended by the pandemic before, however. A remote start would be a precaution that may stave off outbreaks stemming from holiday travel.

Los Angeles is currently experiencing a winter surge in the aftermath of the Thanksgiving holidays as well as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Fore three days in a row, the county has reported more than 3,000 new COVID cases, triple the daily tally a month ago.

In a campus message, university officials said they are closely monitoring the changing conditions associated with the pandemic "and preparing to adapt as needed."

"We have no plans to go online at this moment or having a remote spring semester," according to the university. "We are planning to continue in-person instruction for spring 2022. As part of these plans, like many universities, we are considering the possibility of delaying our in-person return with a temporary remote start in January."

SEE ALSO:

• COVID Outbreak Delays USC-Cal Football Game
• USC, UCLA Cancel In-Person Classes As Coronavirus Spreads
• USC Scraps Plans Fall Return Of In-Person Classes

  ---

Such a delay is only a possibility being reviewed in response to the current COVID spike, which is likely being driven by the Omicron variant that was first detected in South Africa and has quickly spread around the globe.

Health officials say the COVID variant appears to spread very quickly - - even faster than the earlier Delta variant -- and can readily infect both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. But there is no evidence Omicron leads to more severe illness than other variants, particularly among vaccinated people.

USC officials said they would send out an update about spring semester plans "in the coming days."

On Friday, the university issued a message urging students and staff to take health precautions over the holidays. Officials also said the university "is likely" to require booster shots for those taking part in in- person activities.

"Over the holiday season, please protect yourself and your loved ones by masking indoors, testing regularly and staying home when sick," according to the university. "For those remaining on or near campus, USC COVID- 19 testing is available on a modified winter break schedule during the next two weeks."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.