May 27 - Updates on COVID-19
Section 1
UCI UPDATES
Positive COVID-19 case
A positive COVID-19 case in the UCI campus community was identified today. This individual is a graduate student and is recovering in self-isolation.
UCI transitioning to phase 2 research activities
UCI’s Office of Research is issuing guidance on the transition to phase 2 for research. The State transitioned to early Stage 2 in the California roadmap on May 8, 2020, and Orange County transitioned to later Stage 2 in the California roadmap on May 23, 2020. We are consulting with Orange County Health Care Agency and are expecting that UCI’s transition to Phase 2 research activities will be effective on June 8, 2020.
Program in Public Health offers Contract Tracing Workshop
UCI Public Health in collaboration with the OC Health Care Authority is offering a workshop series in mid-summer that is designed to train students and healthcare workers to do contact tracing of COVID-19. The goal of this 40-hour workshop (an additional 10 hours for UCI students) will be to train a cadre of contact tracers, drawing from UCI and the greater Orange County community, in order to address this pressing public health need. For questions, please contact Rosalie Ornelas-Erlandson at rosalieo@uci.edu.
School of Education launches COVID-19 web resource
In a commitment to education during the pandemic, the School of Education has launched a web resource to serve the Orange County community and country with best practices for professors, K12 teachers, and students.
Program in Public Health launches COVID-19 chat line
The Program in Public Health response to COVID-19 is aggregated in a web resource, where viewers can access the live chat line, community outreach efforts, research priorities, and general education on the pandemic and public health best practices and information.
UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND STORIES
School of Education study reveals students’ attitudes toward COVID-19
Two surveys administered as part of the UCI School of Education’s Next Generation Undergraduate Success Measurement Project found that UCI undergraduates are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in altruistic and community-focused ways, but are nonetheless concerned about how the pandemic will affect their education.
UCI experts featured in OC Forum livestreams
The OC Forum has hosted critical conversations with diverse groups of thought leaders and decision-makers. Recent virtual panels on health, economic and charitable challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic attracted thousands of online attendees. Several forums have featured UCI experts from both the campus and the medical center. Coronavirus: The OC Response, and The Future of Mental Health, are two recent OC Forums featuring UCI speakers.
UCI Podcast Video Series: The race for COVID testing
In March, the UCI Medical Center became the first hospital in Orange County to provide COVID-19 testing. In this episode of the UCI Podcast Video Series, Dr. Ed Monuki, chair of pathology who leads UCI Health’s testing efforts, discusses how the campus came together to address this community need and how future testing for the coronavirus and its antibodies will play an important role with the resumption of our regular daily activities, like going back to work or the classroom.
UCI Podcast Video Series: Second Harvest Food Bank and COVID-19
Alumna Claudia Keller, (B.A. political science ’87) joined the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County in February as chief mission officer. In this episode of the UCI Podcast she talks about the impact COVID-19 is having on operations and how her experience at UCI helped prepare her to meet those unique challenges.
UCI COVID-19 VIRTUAL EVENTS
Coronavirus and Crime: Are we safer during a pandemic lockdown?
The School of Social Ecology continues with its Parkside Chats with its next installment called Coronavirus and Crime: Are we safer during a pandemic lockdown? The event takes place Friday, May 29 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and features Dean Nancy Guerra and Charis E. Kubrin, professor of criminology, law and society. Registration is required.
Talking to Kids About Violent Events with Widespread Media Coverage
UCI Wellness offers the upcoming live COVID-19 support webinar Talking to Kids About Violent Events with Widespread Media Coverage. After an event with widespread media coverage, how do you talk to children about what happened? Should you have the conversation at all, or is it better to try to shield them from the news? This session will provide guidance on these important subjects. The event takes place Friday, May 29 from 12 to 1 p.m. The registration links become recording links following each session.
COMMUNITY UPDATES & NEWS
Irvine cancels plans for coronavirus drive-thru testing
Irvine’s plan to provide free coronavirus testing to its residents was abruptly cancelled in a unanimous vote by the City Council Tuesday night after contract negotiations fell through.
Disneyland to open in stage 3
Disneyland, and other California theme parks such as Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, and Legoland California will reopen as part of Stage 3 of California’s road map for reopening.
OC malls reopening
South Coast Plaza will open June 1. OC’s largest shopping center has been closed since March 17 and recently launched a coordinated curbside program for the more than 70 boutiques and over a dozen restaurants offering the service. Additionally, Simon Property Group opened its Orange County malls. The doors officially reopened at the Brea Mall, Shops at Mission Viejo and Outlets at Orange with a raft of additional health and safety measures.
Dodger Stadium is largest testing site in California
Dodger Stadium on Tuesday became the largest coronavirus testing site in California, with the capacity to test up to 6,000 people a day.
California allows salons and barbershops to reopen
Governor Newsom announced that salons and barbershops could reopen in some counties that meet certain health criteria. Out of 58 counties, 47 have “self-attested” to meeting criteria and will be allowed to reopen.
Orange County deems religious services “essential”
Orange County supervisors declared religious services “essential” expressing concerns that Governor Newsom’s plans to reopen places of worship with major restrictions was too constraining for megachurches and large institutions.
CDC casts doubt on antibody tests
According to the CDC, the antibody tests determining if people have been infected with COVID-19 in the past might be wrong up to half the time. The CDC has posted new guidance on its website.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says vaccine should be deployed by end of year
Dr. Anthony Fauci said that a coronavirus vaccine should be able to be deployed by the end of the year. There are currently 10 vaccines in human clinical trials worldwide.
American Airlines will notify passengers when planes are getting full
American Airlines announced that they will start to notify passengers when flights are getting full and will give them options to switch flights without incurring any cost.
UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List
Scientific American, May 27, 2020
A Monday Is a Tuesday is a Sunday as COVID-19 disrupts internal clocks
The Washington Post, May 27, 2020
The Daily 202: Marco Rubio warns of instability without structural changes to help minorities in coronavirus recovery
The Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2020
Researchers outside medicine have a new focus: Covid-19
Voice of OC, May 27, 2020
Coronavirus infections hit hard at Orange County’s Latino community
Daily Pilot, May 26, 2020
Blu-ray disc lasers could help kill the coronavirus, according to UC Irvine researchers
NextShark, May 26, 2020
Instagram + NextShark: 2 Forbes 30 Under 30 honorees on Asian American experiences in the pandemic
PsychCentral, May 26, 2020
Why the pandemic is messing with your sense of time
Business Insider, May 23, 2020
8 countries have coronavirus death rates above 10%, either due to disaster or limited testing
South China Morning Post, May 22, 2020
China urged to diversify soybean sources to curb reliance on US
Orange County Register, May 22, 2020 (Opinion)
Opinion: It’s time to face the facts and reconsider the prolonged lockdowns: Will O’Neill
MORE INFORMATION
OC-COVID19.org - powered by UCI and UCI Health, a website devoted to providing timely, useful, evidence-based information about the novel coronavirus pandemic to our friends and neighbors across Orange County
UCI Coronavirus Information Hub - more information on campus status and operational updates
UCI Health COVID-19 Updates - important information related to UCI Health