July 20 - Updates on COVID-19
Section 1
CAMPUS SNAPSHOT
Aldrich Park. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI
UCI UPDATES
UCI receives record $529 million in research funding for fiscal 2019-20
In fiscal 2019-20, which ended June 30, UCI researchers received the most funding in campus history: $529 million in grants and contracts. Awards from federal and state agencies, leading foundations and forward-thinking companies increased by 20 percent over 2018-19 totals, reflecting strong and burgeoning support for UCI’s top-ranked faculty, first-rate facilities, diverse and talented student body, and community-based programs.
Disinfectant wipes must go in trash, not toilets, please
We have been experiencing an increasing number of plumbing blockages in campus restroom facilities due to wipes being flushed down the toilets. Our systems are not designed to handle this kind of material, and cleaning wipes do not break down or dissolve. This has led to significant building floods and could ultimately require closure of buildings and interruption of operations. Please inform all personnel that this type of material should be discarded in the trash only.
Positive cases
Two students tested positive for coronavirus over the weekend - one graduate student and one undergraduate student. Both have had no campus contacts and are recovering in self-isolation at their homes. Additionally, two employees who had previously tested positive have now been clinically cleared. For the total case counts and recovery counts, visit www.uci.edu/coronavirus.
Process for reporting campus COVID cases
Reporting criteria for staff and faculty who suspect they have coronavirus or have confirmed through a test that they have coronavirus is available, in a three-step format of report, respond and return. This form may also be used to report staff and/or faculty who may have been exposed by a contractor or vendor.
UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND STORIES
UCI athletics transitions to mobile ticketing
UC Irvine Athletics is pleased to announce the transition to mobile-only ticketing, enabling contactless entry into all venues. The shift to mobile-only ticketing will provide a safer environment for fans, efficient event entry, eliminate the misplacement of paper tickets, as well as guard against the production of fraudulent tickets.
Campus organization registration for 2020-2021 opens today
The Office of Campus Organizations & Volunteer Programs (COVP) looks forward to providing Registered Campus Organizations (RCOs) with modified programming, advising and resources during remote learning. Our staff are currently planning for Fall 2020, and will continue to support all RCOs so that groups can cultivate leadership development opportunities and provide outlets for engagement during a time when community is so important. Students can visit the COVP website to begin the process to register a new organization or re-register an existing organization. This year, we will be hosting a virtual Anteater Involvement Fair (AIF) during Welcome Week - more information to come. Organizations must be an RCO by Sept. 28 in order to be eligible to participate in AIF.
UCI expert featured in UCLA podcast
UCLA’s Livewell special podcast series, “6 feet apart,” features UCI’s Dr. Roxane Cohen Silver in the latest episode. During these uncertain and rapidly changing times, many of us may find ourselves constantly checking the news and social media. However, prolonged and repeated exposure to such media may actually be harmful to our health. Dr. Wendy Slusser chats with Dr. Roxane Cohen Silver- professor of psychological science, medicine and public health at UCI and the associate director of the UCI ADVANCE Program in the Office of Inclusive Excellence - about the public health consequences of media exposure.
UCI COVID-19 VIRTUAL EVENTS
CHOC-ZOT!-ZOOM all day hack event
The Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Science brings this COVID-19 all-day virtual mini-hack event. In participation with CHOC and other organizations, the event offers participants to learn how to apply design thinking concepts to solve real life issues. Engage with diverse, multidisciplinary teams and hack hot topics related to the pandemic:
- School Reintegration
- Work Reintegration/Remote Work
- Pediatric Mental Health
- Telenursing/Telemedicine/Remote Care
- Ensuring Families Feel Safe to Seek Care
- Ensuring Healthcare Workers Feel Safe to Provide Care
The event is August 3, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information or to register, please visit: www.choczotzoom.com
UC UPDATES
Incoming UC president: Standardized tests ‘don’t tell the whole picture’
President-designate Michael Drake speaks with “Face the Nation” in this 5-minute video on standardized testing: “We’re very proud that we have so many students interested in attending and we have to judge between them. And what we found is that standardized tests provide marginal information. They can help, but they don’t tell the whole picture. And particularly in this time of COVID, when the opportunity to study and prepare for a test is quite uneven between those students who might be applying for us, we wanted to remove any potential barriers.”
HOPE, INSPIRATION, LAUGHTER
Amid the heartbreaking loss of life and economic hardship wrought by the coronavirus, we recognize the need for stories of kindness, hope, courage and humor.
Chad and JT’s excellent adventure: Comics make viral video about Surf City’s ‘mask shortage’
In a YouTube video currently making gnarly waves, two surfer dudes stroll around the pier plaza offering complimentary face masks.
“We’re here in Huntington Beach to solve the mask shortage,” explains the blond guy (as opposed to brunet guy). “As you can see, no one here has a mask, but we brought our own supply to fix the problem.”
So, who are these goofballs? During an interview at the Huntington Beach Pier, they present themselves as Chad Kroeger (the blond) and JT Parr (the brunet).
COMMUNITY UPDATES & NEWS
Note: Some news organizations require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times and Wall Street Journal for students, faculty and staff.
California high school sports season won’t begin until December or January: CIF
The start of the high school sports season in California will be delayed until December or January, the California Interscholastic Federation announced today. In releasing a new sports calendar, the state’s governing body for high school sports might be giving the state’s more than 800,000 athletes their best opportunity to have a sports season in the 2020-21 school year.
Beauty salons want to work outside
Salon owners and state lawmakers are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow beauty industry professionals to perform their services outside on sidewalks.
Orange County hospitals have kept relatively stable
Despite a surge in cases, Orange County’s 33 hospitals have kept occupancy the past few weeks relatively stable. For now, the semi-activated surge plans among Orange County’s hospitals are working.
Walmart now requires customers to wear face masks
Starting today, Walmart will require customers at all stores across the nation to wear face masks. Walmart becomes the largest retailer to mandate face coverings.
U.K. coronavirus vaccine shows early positive results
Scientists at Oxford University say their experimental coronavirus vaccine has been shown in an early trial to prompt a protective immune response. This response was shown in hundreds of people who got the shot. The next phase of the trial will include over 30,000 people.
Stimulus negotiations begin today
Stimulus negotiations between the White House, the House and the Senate will begin today. The administration hopes to pass a phase four stimulus package before the end of the month and“will be in the trillion-dollar range.”
UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List
Deseret News, July 17, 2020
How many of those who are infected with COVID-19 will die? We search for answers
CNN, July 18, 2020
Medical residency is always hard; now 38,000 trainees are starting during a pandemic
LiveWell, July 20, 2020 (Podcast)
The health effects of media exposure
The Terrier, July 16, 2020
Slackers vs. patriots: Mask use debated for more than a century
USA Today, July 20, 2020
Election lawsuits set record pace amid COVID-19 pandemic as results decide who votes and how Nov. 3
CNN, July 18, 2020
Lying again about the pandemic, Trump made 200 false claims from early June to early July
Voice of OC, July 20, 2020
Orange County supervisors split over coronavirus numbers and trends
Voice of OC, July 17, 2020
Orange County schools likely to have online learning only at start of fall semester
The Nation, July 20, 2020
We’re in a pandemic. Cancel student debt now.
Orange County Business Journal, July 20, 2020
OC companies help spot higher body temperatures
Los Angeles Times, July 20, 2020
Arts students lurch toward freshman year of college in pandemic-induced upheaval
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