January 13 - Updates on COVID-19

Give a shoutout to a colleague or an organization that helped you or you just want to show them some extra love. Tag #UCIconnected or share with marketing@uci.edu and we will share here, too!

TODAY'S CAMPUS UPDATES

New campus cases*

Eight cases were reported yesterday: six students and two employees, bringing the active positive case count to 138, which is down from the 146 reported yesterday. Visit the UCI dashboard for more case count data.

UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND EVENTS

Interdisciplinary pilot study funding on infectious disease dynamics

The UCI Infectious Disease Science Initiative (IDSI) aims to establish UCI as a global leader in research and education in infectious disease dynamics. As part of IDSI’s mission to stimulate new interdisciplinary research projects of infectious disease dynamics, we are pleased to announce a call for pilot project proposals. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 26. UCI students, postdoctoral researchers, research staff and faculty are eligible to submit a proposal. For more information, see the full submission procedures.

Alumnus Vincent Steckler ‘80 and his wife donate $10.4 million to UCI

A $10.4 million gift to UCI from the Steckler Charitable Fund, formed by Vincent and Amanda Steckler, will support art history students as well as the creation of a center committed to making the field of computing more inclusive.

Upcoming events

• Virtual Workshop on the National COVID Cohort Collaborative of the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Friday, noon to 1 p.m., sponsored by the Office of Data and Information Technology

UC NEWS

Paycheck reminders for the new year

Here are a few changes to look out for on your first paycheck of the new year.

Boost your career this year with the UC Alumni Career Network

Each month, join the UC Career Alumni Network and other members of the UC community for real-world, pertinent advice on some of the trickiest challenges that today’s professionals face.

Check out a virtual regents meeting

Learn what’s top of mind for UC leaders by attending a virtual Board of Regents meeting. The first one of 2021 takes place next week – from Jan. 19-21. All open sessions can be live-streamed via the UC Regents website. Access agendas for each session in advance, then tune in to topics that interest you.

GENERAL COVID-19 NEWS

This section curates noteworthy coronavirus news, trends and opinions. No endorsement by UCI is implied. Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and OC Register for students, faculty and staff.

Orange County opens coronavirus vaccinations to anyone 65 and older

Any Orange County resident age 65 and older is now eligible to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, county health officials said yesterday.

COVID-19 vaccinations at Disneyland by appointment only

The County’s three existing POD sites were overwhelmed by individuals without appointments yesterday, effectively shutting down the vaccination sites. It is critical for people to understand that appointment slots are available based on vaccine availability. Showing up without an appointment stresses the system and depletes scarce resources.

California COVID surge shows signs of easing

California’s COVID-19 surge is showing signs of leveling off after besieging hospitals, emergency services and morgues for weeks, the state’s top health official said yesterday. The number of newly hospitalized coronavirus patients statewide has declined to 2,500 admissions every 24 hours over the past two days, down from 3,500 in previous days.

California lifts stay-home order for Sacramento region

California lifted a stay-at-home order in the 13-county Sacramento region yesterday as hospital conditions improved.

With many losing jobs during pandemic, Covered California nears 1.6M enrollment

Nearly 1.6 million people have purchased health insurance through Covered California, a number that reflects the state’s high unemployment rate as millions of people have lost their jobs – and their employer-sponsored health coverage’ during the pandemic. Altogether, nearly 200,000 more people have purchased health insurance this year compared with the same time period last year, a 14% increase.

California sheriffs bust underground ‘superspreader’ parties

California authorities busted two underground “superspreader” events and arrested 182 people as part of a large crackdown to curb the surge in coronavirus cases. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office’s superspreader task force made the arrests at two commercial buildings Saturday night.

WHO official warns global herd immunity won’t happen until 2022

An official with the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that herd immunity from COVID-19 vaccines will not happen this year and physical distancing and mask wearing will need to continue into 2022. WHO officials noted that it will take a long time for the low- and middle-income countries to have enough doses to fully protect their populations. Herd immunity is a global issue.

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.

Cheers! French wine headed home after year in space

The International Space Station bid adieu yesterday to 12 bottles of French Bordeaux wine that spent a year orbiting the world in the name of science. None of the bottles will be opened until the end of February. That’s when the researchers will pop open a bottle or two for an out-of-this-world wine tasting in Bordeaux by some of France’s top connoisseurs and experts. Months of chemical testing will follow. Researchers are eager to see how space altered the sedimentation and bubbles.

Wanna get away?

Taking social distancing to a whole new level, Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival is inviting one cinema fan to spend seven days on an isolated lighthouse island, with only movies and the sea for company.

#UCIconnected

What have you been up to during the pandemic? Send photos and/or words about your activities, workstation, volunteering or academic adventures to marketing@uci.edu or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.

EXPOSURE NOTIFICATION

* Potential workplace exposure: UCI provides this notification of a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure. Employees and subcontractors who were in these locations on the dates listed may have been exposed to the coronavirus. You may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University-specific policies and agreements. The full notification is available on the UCI Forward site. If you have been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case, the UCI Contact Tracing Program will contact you and provide additional direction.