Apr 23 - Updates on COVID-19

UCI UPDATES

Positive COVID-19 case

A student who was last on the UCI campus on March 12 has tested positive for COVID-19. Because it has been more than a month since the student was on campus, there is no need for quarantine. The student is recovering in self-isolation and everyone who was in contact with this individual has been notified.

Important message about student housing for the upcoming year

As a campus, we take great pride in providing a wonderful student housing experience for our students, and, under normal circumstances, offering guarantees for this housing to a large percentage of our student body. However, it is not possible for us to know at this time whether the current public health crisis will allow us to maintain normal operations in student housing and residential life when the fall quarter begins. Consequently, we are not offering a housing guarantee at this time.

#lightitblue tribute campaign

In honor of frontline healthcare professionals and essential workers, the UCI Student Center is lit up in blue lights as part of the nationwide #lightitblue tribute campaign. Thank you to all the medical and essential workers keeping our communities safe and healthy!

New video series, COVID-19: The Humanities Respond

Bringing humanistic perspectives to conversations about the pandemic, the School of Humanities is launching a new series, COVID-19: The Humanities Respond. Every week on Thursdays, starting today and through mid-June, the school will publish a video conversation between a UCI Humanities scholar and Dean Tyrus Miller, discussing the cultural, creative, and philosophical impact of COVID-19.

Celebrate World Book Day with Coach Scott Juniper

Today is #WorldBookDay and the Anteater athletics community celebrates by offering a reading challenge to keep our younger fans engaged at home. Watch this short video message from Women’s Soccer Head Coach Scott Juniper for details on the challenge based on the book Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success by John Wooden.

New Swan 2020 Shakespeare Festival Cancelled

New Swan Artistic Director Eli Simon announced the cancellation: It is with a heavy heart that we are forced to cancel this summer’s New Swan season. Given the Coronavirus threat, the campus barring gatherings, and the mandate of social distancing, there was no possible way to proceed. The company’s health, and the health of our patrons is always our number one concern. Social distancing seems to be the best way to ensure that this virus doesn’t spread. Theater is a social gathering, and since we cannot implement proper distancing, it puts us all at high risk. We will be in touch with news about our 2021 Season soon.

UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND STORIES

UCI athletes participate in #NOCOVID video

UCI’s student-athletes took time to thank frontline healthcare professionals, first responders and essential workers in a #NOCOVID video for protecting the community during the pandemic. The athletes also encourage Anteaters to stay home and practice physical distancing so we can flatten the curve.

UCI Podcast on when life returns to normal

Andrew Noymer is an associate professor of public health at UCI, and an expert on public health responses to pandemics like COVID-19 and their long-term consequences. In this special UCI Podcast, he discusses how and when life will return to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is, social distancing seems to be working. In Orange County, COVID-19 infection rates are lower than predicted... for now. But, he says, don’t expect to return to your normal routines anytime soon. The “new normal,” as many call it, will involve opening up the economy, but social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands repeatedly will remain.

UC UPDATES

Letter to UC Regents from UC experts suggests alternatives to SAT/ACT

In a letter to UC leadership, three University of California admissions experts slammed a recent faculty recommendation to keep the SAT and ACT for at least five years. In the letter, the experts asked the Board of Regents to instead consider using the state assessment for K-12 students in California and several other states known as Smarter Balanced, which research shows is as predictive of college performance as the SAT with less bias against disadvantaged students.

COMMUNITY UPDATES & NEWS

DeVos excludes DACA recipients, foreign students from grants

The Trump administration is barring most international students and all students who entered the U.S. illegally from receiving emergency college grants approved by Congress as part of nearly $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package.

CDC warns second wave of COVID-19 could be deadlier

CDC Director Robert Redfield warns that if a COVID-19 outbreak occurs again next winter, it could be more detrimental than the current outbreak. Redfield explains that this second COVID-19 outbreak may concur with peak flu season.

2 pet cats in New York have SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)

The CDC and USDA have confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2 pet cats. The CDC now recommends that pets should have limited contact with people or animals outside the household.

Another 4.4 million Americans filed for U.S. unemployment benefits

Last week, another 4.4 million laid-off American workers filed for unemployment benefits. Now roughly 26 million people have filed for jobless aid since the pandemic started five weeks ago. About one in six American workers have lost their job.

FEMA guidelines on PPE needs for non-healthcare settings

FEMA has published the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic: Addressing PPE Needs in Non-Healthcare Setting. This guidance summarizes how organizations should consider and manage their personal protective equipment (PPE) needs while ensuring the protection of workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response, including how to preserve limited supplies of PPE, how to consider need during periods of shortages, and how to acquire and request PPE (i.e., in the face of critical shortages and whereas normal supply chain allocation cannot meet operational requirements).

Twitter expands coronavirus policy to ban incitement against 5G

Since it first started to become available, many skeptics of 5G have tried to link it to health issues. 5G has now become an easy scapegoat for the COVID-19 pandemic, given the rapid rise of both. Twitter has now expanded their removal guidelines to include unverified 5G claims that could lead to widespread panic or incite people to engage in harmful activity.

American Red Cross to implement antibody testing for plasma donors

The American Red Cross announced it would work to implement antibody testing to help screen for COVID-19 patients who could donate potentially lifesaving blood plasma to help fight the disease.

California seeks to test 60,000-80,000 people each day

In what would be a four to five-fold increase from current testing levels in California, Governor Newsom announced testing 60,000-80,000 people each day as a key to be able to loosen lockdown orders.

CA hospitals may resume scheduled surgeries

Newsom loosened his stay-at-home order that has been in place for more than a month by permitting hospitals to resume scheduled surgeries.

Autopsies in California since December must be reviewed

Governor Newsom ordered medical examiners and coroners across the state to review autopsies dating back to December to “help guide a deeper understanding of when this pandemic really started to impact Californians.”

Masks required in Fullerton

Fullerton is the latest city in Orange County to require people visiting retail businesses to wear a mask or face covering. The directive will go into effect on Friday, April 24.

Top Orange County public health official abruptly resigns and retires

A day after announcing the rollout of Orange County’s ambitious new Covid-19 testing regime for the entire county, Deputy Health Care Agency Director David Souleles abruptly announced his resignation and retirement.

Orange County arts hit hard by COVID-19

According to a new report released by Arts Orange County, local arts organizations have lost $16 million since the beginning of the pandemic. Nearly 1 million admissions have been lost due to canceled events too.

County of Orange Social Services Agency announces hotline

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced the creation of a hotline for current In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) recipients. The hotline staff will be available to discuss recipients’ urgent needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Recipients can call (714) 825-3000 and press option 4.