April 22 - Updates on COVID-19
Section 1
Happy Earth Day, Anteaters!
TODAY'S CAMPUS UPDATES
UC reviews policy for vaccine requirement
The University of California today shared the details of a proposed policy on COVID-19 vaccination as it joins the California State University in supporting immunizations as part of an expected return to in-person instruction across the state later this year. Under the proposed policy, the University would require students, faculty, academic appointees and staff who are accessing campus facilities at any UC location beginning this fall to be immunized against SARS-CoV-2. The requirement would go into effect once a vaccine has full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Read the employee and student FAQs for more information about the proposed policy.
Accellion data breach update - print and go one-sheet
As was announced on March 31st, the University of California was a target of a nationwide cyber-attack on Accellion’s File Transfer Appliance. Many individuals who have enrolled in the Experian IdentityWorks service are receiving alerts that their social security numbers and other sensitive information were found on the dark web, possibly due to this incident. In response to this recent activity, and to simplify the monitoring process, UC has created a printable one-sheet with a simplified, step-by-step checklist of what you should do to protect yourself. This one-sheet can be shared electronically or printed and shared. All resources’ full web links referred to in this sheet are listed on the back page of the downloadable document. We encourage you to share this information with employees and students to protect yourself in response to the Accellion cybersecurity incident.
Student vaccine reminders
Once students have received their COVID-19 vaccine, they should upload their vaccination record to the UCI Student Health Center Patient Portal (step-by-step instructions can be found here). Effective April 26, on-campus students who are fully vaccinated (14 days after their last shot) and have uploaded their vaccination records are no longer required to participate in the Asymptomatic Testing Program.
Due to increased numbers of students receiving the vaccine, the Vista Del Campo Testing Site will be closing, effective Monday. Appointments will be moved to the Plaza Verde Community Center, Division of Continuing Education Yosemite Room or the Prietto Sports Medicine Center (student-athletes only).
No new campus cases*
No student residents or on-campus employees tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.
UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND EVENTS
Plant a seed on Earth Day
UCI Housing Sustainability has set up “seed libraries” at four campus locations to pick up free seeds for personal use. The purpose of the seed library program is to foster a campus culture of sustainability and resilience, enabling a community of backyard and container farmers. Campus members are also encouraged to donate seeds produced from their own gardens to replenish the library.
Our campus, our Earth
Read some examples of how UCI’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability appears in many campus activities.
UC NEWS
Data breach update
The University of California has created an FAQ to address concerns about the cyberattack and provide guidance on how to protect impacted information.
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’s virus case rate is lowest in continental U.S.
California’s coronavirus case rate is now the lowest in the continental U.S., an achievement that reflects months of hard-won progress against the pandemic in the aftermath of the state’s devastating fall-and-winter surge.
Two new vaccine clinics come to Santa Ana, Irvine
A new clinic opened in Santa Ana Wednesday and another will open in Irvine on Monday to boost Orange County’s vaccination rates.
U.S. jobless claims hit a pandemic low
Another 547,000 American workers filled jobless claims last week, adjusted for seasonal swings. It was a new low for claims since the pandemic started and fewer than analysts surveyed by Refinitiv expected.
Dodgers offer ‘fully vaccinated-only section’ for Padres game
Fans who can prove they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible for tickets in Dodgers Stadium’s new “fully vaccinated-only” section for Saturday’s game against the Padres.
Study: Only 2 infections among hundreds of fully vaccinated people
For fully vaccinated people, the risk of still getting COVID-19 -- described as "breakthrough infections" -- remains extremely low, a new study out of New York suggests.
Do we still need to wear masks outdoors?
As more people get vaccinated and warmer days invite us outside, many are starting to wonder about the actual risk of outdoor transmission. This is what some experts think.
What the return of the flu may look like
Thanks to pandemic precautions, the latest flu season essentially never happened, but epidemiologists say that the return of influenza is certain.
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.
‘Bobageddon’
Tragically, a boba shortage is looming as shipments trickle to a halt. Boba is to UCI as ants are to anteaters. Community members should consider swapping the tapioca balls for jellies or puddings for the time being.
Spotify curates COVID vaccine playlist
Popular songs include Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," Lady Gaga's "The Cure," and The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun.”
#UCIconnected
‘We did it for each other’
Kathy Hills and her father, Edward Hills, 86, both patients of UCI Health, received their vaccinations at UCI. “We did it for each other, so that we could spend time together,” said Kathy. Sadly, Edward passed away on March 12, 2021 from cancer. “We were so grateful we were able to be vaccinated through UCI as soon as possible,” Kathy continued. “We were able to spend my father’s final month together.”
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 COVID-19 vaccination, 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.