COVID-19 advice for the USC community
15 Apr 2021
To keep the USC community up to date with COVID-19 information, this page will feature details about new developments that relate to the university, with the latest news in bullet points at the top.
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RESTRICTIONS EASED: The Queensland Government announced at 6am on Thursday 15 April that COVID-19 restrictions have eased across Queensland.
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FACE MASKS: Face mask wearing in Queensland is now only mandatory in certain settings, including at airports and on flights. People are still encouraged to carry masks with them at all times and to wear them when social distancing is not possible, such as on public transport and at shopping centres.
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USC CLASSES: USC classes have returned to arrangements that were in place before the recent three-day Brisbane lockdown began on 29 March.
- Students or staff who feel unwell or exhibit flu-like symptoms should not attend campus, and should immediately make an appointment to see their GP. Queensland Health provides up-to-date guidance about the symptoms of COVID-19.
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COVID-19 reporting form - Students, staff and visitors to USC who have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 are asked to complete this confidential form. It is also for those who may have had contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or recently been to a declared COVID-19 hotspot.
- Response to a coronavirus case - If Queensland Health identifies that someone from USC has coronavirus, the University will follow Queensland Health’s instructions on what actions need to be taken. See details below in the "USC Response" FAQs.
- All FAQs for students are available at USC’s dedicated student page
- All FAQs for staff, including work from home details, are available via MyUSC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the novel coronavirus. Please also check in with Queensland Health, the Australian Department of Health, and the World Health Organization.
All USC’s Queensland campuses remain open and operating, with staff working with additional hygiene and sanitation measures as well as with enhanced social distancing measures. This is in line with Australian Government advice that universities should continue to operate.
USC libraries are open and students can still borrow books and other resources. We encourage students to continue using the Click and Collect service to select items for borrowing. Library help services are available via email, phone, online via live chat, Zoom. Limited face-to-face services are available by appointment only. For the best experience, contact our team online so we can help you find what you’re after. Check the Library website for more details. usc.edu.au/library
The 24-hour study spaces at USC Sunshine Coast, USC Moreton Bay, and USC Fraser Coast remain accessible via swipe card. Social distancing limits apply in these spaces.
USC's Asset Management Services are providing additional cleaning and sanitation services to high-touch and high-traffic areas across all sites. Particular emphasis is being placed on surfaces within bathrooms, along with high-touch areas such as handrails, door handles and lift buttons. These services are being provided in conjunction with existing work routines, along with additional cleaning shifts in the high-use locations. Some minor disruptions may result from this work.
USC reopened its sporting facilities to the community on 11 July 2020, with COVID-19 protocols now in place for social distancing and hygiene. USC Stadium is permitted to host Suncorp Super Netball fixtures because it has an approved COVID-safe plan.
If you are showing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, including a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, contact your general practitioner or Queensland Health on 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) immediately. It is suggested to phone ahead to explain your symptoms, travel history, and possible contact with someone who might have had the novel coronavirus.
You can also let us know if you have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 by completing our confidential online reporting form:
usc.edu.au/covid-19-reporting
Face mask wearing in Queensland is now only mandatory in certain settings, including at airports and on flights. People are still encouraged to carry masks with them at all times and to wear them when social distancing is not possible, such as on public transport and at shopping centres.
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, anyone arriving in Queensland must quarantine if, in the last 14 days, they:
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have been overseas
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have been in a COVID-19 hotspot
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have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19
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have COVID-19 or any symptoms.
People might be asked by their clinician to self-isolate in their own home, residence, hotel or other accommodation because they either have or might have COVID-19. This is to help reduce the spread of the virus to other people. Clinicians will only recommend self-isolation to those assessed as being well enough to be self-caring and able to seek medical attention if their symptoms become worse.
Self-isolation means staying at home, and not going to work, university, school or anywhere public for 14 days. Fourteen days is considered to be the maximum incubation period of the virus, so any symptoms would develop in this time.
The key is to avoid contact with others, which also means not accepting visitors to your home. People should also avoid going to the shops, and to instead arrange food deliveries to their homes or contact Student Wellbeing for assistance to arrange this.
Self-isolation has been described by public health experts as the same measures that you would take if you have the flu, to avoid spreading the virus, which is transmitted by droplets from coughs and sneezes, and possibly transferred by contact with shared surfaces.
USC students with further questions about self-isolation can contact Student Wellbeing at +61 7 5430 1226 or studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
USC staff with queries about self-isolation and/or believe that they should self-isolate can contact USC’s Human Resources on +61 7 5430 2830 or uscstaff@usc.edu.au.
If symptoms appear during a period of self-isolation, contact your general practitioner or Queensland Health on 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) immediately.
If you’re showing symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, please contact your general practitioner or Queensland Health on 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) immediately.
A confirmed case of COVID-19 is a person who tests positive to a validated, specific SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test or who has had the virus identified by electron microscopy or viral culture.
A suspect case of COVID-19 is a person who has had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Close contact is defined as requiring:
- greater than 15 minutes face-to-face contact in any setting with a confirmed case in the period extending from 24 hours before onset of symptoms in the confirmed case, or
- sharing of a closed space with a confirmed case for a prolonged period (e.g. more than 2 hours) in the period extending from 24 hours before onset of symptoms in the confirmed case.
Information for USC students regarding advice and support during the coronavirus pandemic is now available at the University's dedicated student page.
Information for USC staff regarding advice and support during the coronavirus pandemic is now available via MyUSC.
As at 29 October 2020, all domestic travel on USC business is permitted, with the exception of any travel requiring a quarantining period as part of the journey (eg on arrival or on return). All domestic travel must be authorised by a member of USC's Executive until further notice. This applies to USC staff members as well as to individuals who are not USC staff members but whose travel would be paid or partly paid from USC funds. This includes funds relating to research and consultancy contracts held in USC’s name.
The Australian Government advice for all overseas travel is do not travel. This reflects the gravity of the international situation arising from the COVID-19 outbreak, the risks to health, and the high likelihood of major travel disruptions.
USC has suspended all international travel until further notice. The global travel situation will be monitored and, if circumstances change, this suspension may be modified, including to allow travel to a limited range of countries. This suspension includes travel by individuals who are not USC staff members but whose travel was planned to be paid or partly paid by USC, including trips relating to research and consultancy contracts held in the University’s name.
The Australian Government has closed the country's border to anyone who is a non-citizen or non-resident, with exemptions only for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family, including spouses, legal guardians and dependants. New Zealand citizens who live in Australia as Australian residents are also exempt, as are New Zealanders transiting to New Zealand. Exemptions for Pacific Islanders transiting to their home countries will continue to apply. Returned travellers from any overseas location need to self-isolate for 14 days.
COVID-19 is considered a “foreseen circumstance” for all new travel insurance policies effected and/or new paid travel arrangements made after 4pm (AEDT) 2 March 2020. A “foreseen circumstance” may be precluded under the terms and conditions of some policies. In regards to travel to China, COVID-19 has been considered a "foreseen circumstance" since 22 January 2020.
USC’s travel insurance will continue to apply for university activities except for COVID-19 related events (disruptions, cancellations, accommodation changes etc).
Contact the USC media team
Name | Position | Phone | |
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Terry Walsh | Manager, Media and Messaging | twalsh@usc.edu.au | +61 7 5430 1160 |
Janelle Kirkland | Media Relations Coordinator | jkirklan@usc.edu.au | +61 7 5459 4553 |
Clare McKay | Media Relations Officer (Regional) | cmckay@usc.edu.au | +61 7 5456 5669 |