@CADREAMIN great idea about a big brother/sister Trojan. Hopefully the freshmen will find ways to connect with older students. My D is a student ambassador and part of troy camp and they are both going to be hiring/recruiting new members. It won’t be the same as in person but both offer opportunities for freshmen to meet older students.
@Marcie123 I know my D would set up her name in a group to be connected to a freshman, and I assume many of the Trojan family would step up as well if called out to do so…I know your D is sooo active and a great ambassador (I always thought kids in that program are special hearted and kind), I’m sure she will be a great help to many!
I know the school admin has so much to focus on - so hopefully students put effort into taking care of each other while there. Mentally for these kids, it’s a cautious and tough time.
New topic here…wondering if any of you (CADREAMIN or WWWard??) with upper classmen may have recommendations for a local general practice doctor for my daughter while in LA who is part of the Aetna student health insurance plan?
@5OnTheHill We are on a PPO so don’t use Aetna. We kept her physician at home for checkups (and just called them for antiobiotics if needed kind of thing) and used outside ENTs or other docs if the health center messed up or we weren’t comfortable with them handling. @WWWard may have a recommendation there. Also, does the health center have a list of doctors they refer to as a start for research?
One thing I wish I had know when we went there - that I can say after several kids over many years at USC, and trial and error - we love the UCLA ER/Urgent Care Medical Center in Santa Monica for emergencies or things beyond the health center. My son had taken his sister (both Trojans) to one of the downtown hospitals (for pneumonia/bronchitis) kind of thing and that was a nightmare, on top of being just plain scary.
The UCLA Santa Monica ER is a branch of the giant UCLA Medical Center but is much less intimidating and overwhelming to use. Easy parking on site or just uber to get over there. They were fantastic and it’s good to be registered in the UCLA health system if you need to return. Not sure about them and Aetna, but if you can go there and need to, I highly recommend.
https://www.uclahealth.org/Santa-Monica/maps-directions-and-parking
Ok freshman parents and those who are keeping up with things better than us old timers…I see USC has the POP testing that you basically have to be “invited” to. I suppose initially for staff or those housed on campus, etc. They say it will broaden, but it is certainly not wide open at this point and you have to get an email/invite to get tested.
But if a student wants to take a test - they are not symptomatic - but maybe returning home or heading somewhere else and want to be checked before they leave the USC bubble, is that available in the health center? Or anywhere that USC makes availble?
I tried to call the health center but got bored holding (not sure if anyone there now). I am guessing one of our CC alert parents asked this question already?
@Marcie123 ???
@5OnTheHill my D does not have a primary care doctor in LA but is planning on getting one this year. Sorry I can’t help you but wanted to let you know that she has had great experiences with several doctors at Keck. She gets sick a lot and is accident prone so she has seen an ENT, dermatologist and 2 orthopedics- knee and hand specialists. She calls the main number at Keck and they connect her to the appropriate department. She also has been to Reliant Urgent Care many times.
@saltyandpeppery Thanks for your reasoning. We are in Orange County- about 45 min from campus. I want my daughter to go on campus too- but she is the one that keeps on saying how restrictive it will be. She is not ready for Gateway, etc so I really want her in a dorm. It would be awful if the kids went to the dorms only to have a potential shutdown 2 weeks later. I agree with you that seeing students at the village would just make her experience at least a step up better than living at home with us. Big decision!
Agree… Great post, @saltyandpeppery
@5OnTheHill My daughters never really had a specific doctor in L.A. and only went with whomever the USC health center assigned. Luckily, they had very little need to ever visit there.
I gave blood on Friday and by doing so found out today that I am positive for the COVID-19 antibodies. I was sick a # of weeks ago, but it was very mild. So was my daughter. Her symptoms were slightly worse but still very mild. So she likely has the antibodies too. Hopefully that means that neither of us can get it again. It is so strange how it affects everyone differently. But, it makes me feel better about sending her back to L.A. this month.
@WWWard I’m glad you both are doing fine. There is insufficient information whether people are truly resistant to infection after natural infection by the virus. The majority of infected individuals produce low to undetectable levels of neutralizing (protective) antibodies, and might be clearing through innate immune mechanisms rather than adaptive. I do suspect, even if there may not be “sterilizing” immunity conferred by an initial infection, in those that might get reinfected, there could be less severe symptoms. So far no one has seen this phenomenon observed with other viruses, like Dengue, where the virus adapted to antibody responses to take advantage of them and infect more efficiently during round 2. Anyway, the general caveat that is implicit above is that a vaccine will likely still be beneficial in the future for those that have been naturally infected and because protection may be incomplete after natural infection, don’t assume that you can’t get reinfected and pass on to others.
That’s interesting that donating blood might be the quickest way to get a COVID-19 antibody test. I guess they’re thinking that blood borne transmission of this respiratory virus (that typically infects cells in the nasal and lung epithelial pathway) is possible, i.e. requiring there to be both infectious virus in the blood and cells susceptible to infection.
Congrats @WWWard! I know so many that would be happy to know they have had it and have the antibodies. There was just a report that said there is no proof that anyone has actually had it a second time. But they also say even if it was possible, that the second time would not be worse than the first. And in your case, it wasn’t bad, so that’s great for you. I would find reassurance in those results too! Between LA and Florida, I think it’s a tie btw. 
It’s August 3, and housing apps are still unresolved for move-in beginning August 10.
Guessing on-campus option is less and less likely with every passing day. If they do assign, it will be a frenzy of flights, hotels, shopping, and packing. If they don’t assign, it will be quiet deflation.
Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. The motto of everything these days.
@ridingthewave @CADREAMIN Thanks! Yes… I learned from a friend who gave blood last week. He also found out that he had the antibodies. In his case, he had it much worse in terms of when he was sick. His was like a bad flu episode. A friend in Virginia who had it ended up with double pneumonia. So I count my family very lucky that it was very mild. I am still assuming that the worst might be possible… and that reinfection could occur. But I remain hopeful that my daughter and I have already passed and cleared that hurdle indefinitely.
My incoming freshman with a pending housing app received an email today from USC’s COVID test vendor Color. Instructions are to “ Schedule an appointment within 5-7 days of your arrival to campus.”. When you click through to the end, students are able to schedule an appointment at one of the one-campus health facilities. This test doesn’t offer any value to those who aren’t already in LA, as students can not be expected to arrive in LA 5-7 days before any dorm move-in date.
My older child is a student at another University, and that school is mailing COVID tests to all students who will be on or near campus, for students to take the test at home and then return it for processing so that results are received prior to being on campus.
@saltandpeppery that’s what it seemed like, people with on campus housing and staff are invited to be tested versus school wide testing track and trace…I suppose they want to know they are negative when they are already there, certainly people could get exposed traveling to campuses…I don’t know if there is any scenario that works perfectly. But at home testing sounds amazing.
I was hoping there was ability for any USC student to get tested at USC at any time, and still want to get an answer to this - dang, I always think about this after 5pm - will try to call tomorrow.
What I want to know is if a student goes back to the USC area, then decides to head back home at any point, it would be nice if they could get tested before they leave USC.
One school that seems to have had their stuff together early on is University of Arizona (and they are HUGE) - they have testing available to everyone living on and off campus (living on campus must take it) and are offering free and voluntary antibody testing as well. They are doing comprehensive testing, track and trace.
I assumed USC would provide the same, but I have been hoping for that news since June when UA put out their info.
From their Q&As
Is testing available on campus for all students, faculty and staff who have been on campus?
Testing is available on campus for faculty, staff, and students who develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or are exposed. Surveillance testing (a sampling of the population) will be conducted on an ongoing basis. We will share more information about where and when testing will be administered on campus over the coming weeks.
So I think the actual answer to my question and the one above is “No.”
I guess the invite my incoming freshman received from Color to make an appointment for COVID testing was part of “ongoing testing”, even though he’s not currently on-campus, rather than the required initial pre-campus testing.
From Student Health: https://studenthealth.usc.edu/covid19-testing/
“Ongoing testing, Pop Testing powered by Color: Testing of asymptomatic individuals in campus populations will continue throughout the fall semester based on public health guidelines and the emergence of cases. This surveillance testing will include students living in USC Housing; notifications to schedule testing will be sent by email—students must check university email accounts for important USC information every day.”
This is distinct from the requirement to be tested before living on campus:
“Initial Covid-19 Test: Students permitted to live in USC Housing or taking in-person classes must present documentation of a COVID-19 test performed within 7 days before their first day on campus.”
Since COVID tests are difficult to arrange in many areas and since predicting the timing of delivery of results is uncertain, it will be tricky to take a test within 7 days and be certain of having results prior to any future move-in. Many schools have made plans to test all students as part of return to campus, and I’m surprised USC is not providing more support.
It’s up to all of us to figure it out. Wait for any future housing assignment, scramble to find a test and get it done within 7 days of move-in, and then hope results are delivered prior to move-in.
Separately, what’s the view on whether USC has effectively pulled the plug on any hope of students living on campus sometime this fall? The communications are worded vaguely, but I wonder if the reality is that students (except for those already on campus or those with exceptional housing needs) should adjust to the idea that they’ll be at home for the fall semester. Or do you read it that the school is still hoping to open dorms if/when approval is received from LA Public Health this fall?
@saltandpeppery and all
So I got a hold of Engemman - for those not “invited” to test, it seems there is testing through the same system Pop hosted by Color (as they called it), which is doing the mandatory testing as well. You can request through them or an advice nurse and can use a variety of reasons like been exposed or traveling home and need it to fly, or going home to susceptible individuals (like most parents), etc. You just make your case to get it approved. Hopefully they make it easy. If a USC student wants to get tested, it seems like it should be easily available to them. Hopefully not too many hoops.
@saltandpeppery If a freshman, I think you really have to be in the “staying at home” mindset even though their communications sounds like they are just “starting” the semester this way. They do make it sound like, if in a the first month, if CA/LA lifted they ban, they would open up. They have already put so much time and effort to be ready for one per room and hybrid classes…if they can do it, I believe they will. However, for mental health and sanity, I think you have to assume it’s not going to open. If it does, it’s a pleasant surprise. Otherwise it’s a long and tiring semester tyring to hold out hope.
Hopefully freshman are knocking out some dreaded GEs, pre-reqs or other not so fun classes (that you may not have wanted to go to in person anyway…shhhh… don’t tell the parents that, ha) since you have a lot to choose from at this point.
The door is definitely open for USC to potentially stick with their limited residency plan and some in-person and hybrid classes …
After the guidance from the state, Harvey Mudd is going forward with their plan to have approximately 500 students on campus. Unlike some other school plans, I read elsewhere that Mudd won’t be routinely testing students, only if someone is symptomatic. Perhaps they are supplementing this with random screening or dorm sewage screening (this is underway at USC, for an athletics dorm).
USC may be contemplating a new move-in schedule after classes have started. I suspect there are a lot of hurried communications that went on today that will continue on Saturday.
More on state guidance and USC’s initial statement.
http://dailytrojan.com/2020/08/07/state-issues-guidance-for-reopening-institutions-of-higher-education/