July 30 - Updates on COVID-19
Section 1
CAMPUS SNAPSHOT
Aldrich Hall. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI
UCI UPDATES
Chancellor and Provost issue mid-summer update
The message addresses recovery efforts, working remotely, finances, and screening, testing and contact tracing.
Positive cases and recoveries
One employee working remotely has tested positive for coronavirus. This individual has not been on campus and is recovering in isolation at home. In some positive news, four previously positive employees have recovered and returned to work, and in some great news, our Student Health Center reports that all positive student cases have clinically recovered. The cumulative case count can be found at www.uci.edu/coronavirus.
UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND STORIES
UCI Podcast: Coronavirus crisis and economic recovery
The COVID-19 crisis has intertwined economics and public health into a single issue, creating a collective action problem. Eric Spangenberg, dean of the UCI Paul Merage School of Business and consumer behavior expert, joins the UCI Podcast to share his insights into the relationship between community action and keeping Orange County safely and successfully open for business during the pandemic.
To get the latest episodes of the UCI Podcast delivered automatically, subscribe at:
Apple Podcasts – Google Podcasts – Stitcher – Spotify
UCI COVID-19 VIRTUAL EVENTS
ArtsTalk: Leading arts through a pandemic
ArtsTalk is a series of interdisciplinary conversations with Claire Trevor School of the Arts Dean Stephen Barker and students, faculty and staff across the four departments of Art, Dance, Drama and Music. In the second episode of ArtsTalk, Dean Barker speaks with the Department of Drama’s M.F.A. students Hailey Byerly (’21), Tolu Ekisola (’22) and Arizsia Staton (’22) about their experience in the Acting program at UC Irvine, their new initiative, Students Mobilizing for Change, how they have adjusted to remote learning and personal projects they are working on this summer.
Free virtual wellbeing services for all employees
The Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute through its wellbeing initiative is offering free virtual wellbeing services for all UCI employees. This website lists the available services, and you can request an appointment at this website.
UC UPDATES
UC Regents to consider $80 million budget cut
The Regents of the University of California are set to vote today on an $80 million budget cut. A drop in state revenues caused by the coronavirus pandemic led Sacramento to slash UC’s funding by nearly 13% for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. UC President Janet Napolitano has proposed an $862 million budget, an 8.5% reduction from last year’s $941.7 million spending plan.
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.
A woman was hospitalized with Covid-19 - one of her aides turned out to be her long-lost sister
It was a regular day at the Nebraska rehabilitation center last month when Bev Boro, a medication aide, looked over her patient list. Suddenly, a name on the list stopped her cold: Doris Crippen. “I kept saying ‘Oh my God,’” said Boro, 53. “That must be her.”
She had not seen her older sister in more than 50 years, though the two had long been searching for each other. The unlikely reunion was set in motion in May when Crippen, 73, was diagnosed with Covid-19.
How to be funny on Zoom
Over the last couple of months, several TV comedies have managed to pull together quarantine specials that invariably feature their characters grappling with the teleconference way of life. It’s a grand experiment that’s incredible to watch in real time, as networks figure out how to make TV in a pandemic to which we’ve all struggled to adapt. It has also proven — in most cases — that you can still be very, very funny on a video call, even without all of the benefits of being far away from everyone else.
Giants celebrate teammate’s home run COVID-style
The San Francisco Giants delivered one of the lighter, funnier moments of the pandemic-abbreviated season Wednesday night by staging a COVID-conscious celebration following outfielder Mike Yastrzemski’s walk-off home run against the San Diego Padres.
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’s minimum wage increase will take effect as planned next year
California’s minimum wage will still increase next year even with the coronavirus pandemic-induced recession, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.
Under ICE rules and visa complications, a semester with no new international students awaits
Roughly 80,000, or 30%, of new international students will not come to the U.S. to study in the fall, according to the American Council on Education. This number is likely to grow due to ICE’s recent policies and visa complications.
Irvine drive-thru farmer’s market
The Modified Farmers Market at Great Park, Lot no. 2 is open for business every Sunday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Track OC’s reopening plans
As California’s reopen plans stands in-between stage 2 and 3, find out what is open and restricted in OC with the state’s county tracker.
John Wayne Airport announces “Cleaner-and-safer-than-ever-beforeport”
John Wayne Airport is ready to reconnect guests with family, friends, and business associates, and welcome everyone back to a cleaner, safer, and more secure environment. “Healthy Travels” practices implemented throughout the Terminal following County and State guidelines protect the health of all visitors and guests. Flight goers may enjoy cocktails to go, contactless food ordering and gate delivery, complimentary #JWAsmile masks, live music, sanitation stations, and increased social distancing and sanitation measures.
Socially distanced in vehicles, 290 new U.S. citizens naturalized in Santa Ana
From March 18 to June 4, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended in-person meetings to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, July 29, the agency made up for lost time with a mass swearing in of about 290 new Americans who were put on hold for months. The socially distanced ceremonies took place at Santa Ana College, where applicants remained in their cars as they repeated their oaths to USCIS officials.
What does Orange County’s Board of Education really do?
While the board’s decisions have triggered a massive debate in Orange County around the issue of returning to school, few people realize that the board holds very few powers. The only powers allocated to the county Board of Education, according to the California Education code, is a final approval on the department of education’s budget and purchasing property. In Orange County, they also serve as an appeals committee for inter-district transfers, expulsions and charter school applications.
Newsom announces ‘strike team’ for California’s unemployment agency
Faced with complaints from jobless Californians who have been unable to obtain unemployment benefits, Governor Newsom announced the formation of a ‘strike team’ to address issues with the system and to help streamline the process.
European Union revises safe travel countries, does not include U.S
The European Union has revised its list of safe travel countries to 11 non-member states. The United States remains on the list of restricted nations.
Unemployment claims rose for second week in a row
An additional 1.4 million people filed for initial jobless claims last week, up 12,000 from the prior week’s level.
Raging Waters cancels its summer season
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Raging Waters announced the cancellation of its summer season and will return in 2021. All season passes have been automatically extended through 2021.
The U.S. sees its worst economic plunge in history
In its worst drop on record, the U.S. economy contracted by 32.9% between April and June, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List
ABC7, July 29, 2020 (Video)
Mother and daughter in Orange County make, donate candles to provide stress relief for healthcare workers
Politico, July 29, 2020
California’s tough-on-crime movement runs into coronavirus, Floyd activism
ABC7, July 29, 2020 (Video)
OC Board of Education announces lawsuit against California over school closures
San Diego Union Tribune, July 29, 2020
3 San Diego universities report some of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates in US
Inverse, July 30, 2020
4 vital Fauci quotes that explain this week’s biggest coronavirus stories
Futurity, July 30, 2020
The pandemic may change what we eat
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