UCI Forward

UCI Forward is our commitment to the well-being of our community as we ramp up campus operations. Working together, each of us doing our part, we can move UCI Forward.

April 5 - Updates on COVID-19

Section 1

CAMPUS SNAPSHOT

Shades of M.C. Escher in this Social Sciences stairway photo by Ian Parker.

Shades of M.C. Escher in this Social Sciences stairway photo by Ian Parker.

TODAY'S CAMPUS UPDATES

UC data breach update and steps you should take

In the wake of a cyber attack in which perpetrators gained access to names, birth dates, Social Security numbers and bank account information of UC community members, the UC Office of the President has outlined a series of steps that everyone should take to protect their personal and financial information. There is also a Spanish version of the document.  

Employee vaccination event this Friday

UCI will host what may be its final employee-only vaccination clinic this Friday at the Bren Events Center. Watch for your email invitation (and check your junk mail folder, because some past invites have gone to spam). Invitations will not be sent to employees who previously opted out of receiving vaccination invitations.

Emergency sick leave expanded by 80 hours

UC officials have approved an additional 80 hours of COVID-related Emergency Paid Sick Leave, available through Sept. 30 for all staff and academic employees, including represented, student and healthcare employees. More details can be found in the UC announcement.

One new campus case over weekend*

One student resident (and no on-campus employees) tested positive for COVID-19 from Friday through Sunday. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.

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.

California to allow indoor concerts, theater performances

Indoor concerts, theater performances and other private gatherings can resume starting April 15. To attend, people will either have to be tested or show proof of full vaccination. Attendance capacity will vary by county.

Infection rates rise, but experts debate meaning

Is the U.S. on the cusp of a “fourth wave”? Or is it instead witnessing the last gasps of the crisis? Interpretations of the data vary.

Variants partly to blame for 4 weeks of rising cases, CDC says

This is the fourth straight week of increasing cases, according to Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She said the CDC is watching the numbers with “concern.”

San Diego businesses sue to end state’s COVID restrictions

More than 45 restaurants, gyms and small businesses are asking a federal court to permanently end California’s on-again, off-again COVID-19 restrictions. This isn’t the first lawsuit to challenge the emergency policies, but it’s the first one filed in federal court, and is based on alleged violations of the U.S. constitution.

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.

Satire: J&J debuts new 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner, vaccine

The new product also has “no more tears,” according to the Babylon Bee humor site.

Photographer captures surprise reunion moment

After a year apart, a 98-year-old woman gets to see her family again. Photos of the visit went viral.

#UCIconnected

If you have a shoutout, or if you’d like to share what you’ve been up to during the pandemic, send photos and/or words about your activities, workstation, volunteering, etc., 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.