The university reported a decline to 35 active COVID-19 cases on campus according to the university's online COVID-19 dashboard.
4,679 cases have been reported to the university since Jan. 1, according to data USC released on Tuesday. Of the 35 active cases, 29 are students and six are faculty and staff.
This is a decrease of 25 cases since last week's total of 60 active cases. The university has seen a steady decline in cases since January.
At a 1.5% positivity rate for students, about one in 65 students who got tested from Feb. 13 to Feb. 19 tested positive.
This falls below South Carolina's positivity rate of 7.2%. There are currently 436 new cases in South Carolina, according to data the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported on Feb. 22.
USC announced an update to the mask mandate through email on Feb. 21 after the alert level returned to "new normal" last week.
The email said masks would only be required in instructional spaces, research facilities and on-campus public transportation. The university supported voluntary masking in all other areas, such as dorms and Russell House.
"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," Interim Provost Stephen Cutler and Interim Chief Health Officer Jason Stacy said in the email said.
The university said SAFE testing, wastewater monitoring and daily campus tracking would continue.
Approximately 71% of students, 68% of staff and 82% of faculty are vaccinated, the university reported.
USC students, faculty and staff can get tested and vaccinated on campus. Monthly student testing is required.
USC's COVID-19 dashboard calculates an alert level based on 11 factors including campus testing, isolation capacity and campus case burden. The current alert level is set at new normal.
USC updates its COVID-19 dashboard every Tuesday.