TAMPA, Fla. — University of South Florida leaders have decided to postpone the transition to phase 2 of reopening.
Officials are now closely monitoring the COVID-19 data after the recent spike in cases.
The plan was to be in phase 3 by the end of July or early August in time to prepare for the start of the fall semester.
USF is using a four-phase approach to gradually resume in-person activities on campus.
Right now, the school is still in phase 1.
In phase 1, 25% of the staff is back on campus with strict protective measures to limit exposures.
That means everyone is wearing a mask, social distancing and crews are taking extra cleaning precautions.
In phase 2, 50% of staff will return to campus, preparing to resume normal operations while still limiting exposure.
For phase 3, 75% of the staff would be back on campus with near full resumption of critical operations.
Finally, phase 4 would be when the CDC lifts the social distancing guidance and herd immunity is achieved or the rate of transmission is stable below 1%. At that point, all community members would return to campus and operations would resume.
University leaders say it’s important the plan is flexible to anticipate changing conditions.
