June 22 - Updates on COVID-19
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Julia Zakashansky, materials science and engineering doctoral student, works in the Michelle Khine lab. Steve Zylius/UCI
TODAY’S CAMPUS UPDATES
Phase 4 Research transitioning starts today
On June 22 UCI will begin its gradual transition to Phase 4 research. This is the final phase in reopening the UCI research enterprise. Phase 4 research permits all research activities, as well as all types of invited guests and visitors.
Updated executive directive on face coverings
Yesterday we ran an item sharing updated executive directives, including on face coverings. Please note that the directive on face coverings may not apply in some UCI locations, such as the UCI Health System (including UCI Medical Center, Gottschalk Plaza, and other UCI Health clinics) and research laboratories, where stricter face, covering or PPE requirements may apply and thereby supersede the requirements of this Directive. Everyone is encouraged to read the full directive to learn the specific applications and exemptions.
Student sequestration upon move in
As students move into ACC and graduate housing over the summer, sequestration applies to students who are unvaccinated. They will need to test within 48 hours of arrival and sequester for 10 days or until they receive 2 negative tests. They will then continue testing weekly as well as need to continue wearing face coverings. More information on sequestration is located on the UCI Forward site.
New campus cases*
No student residents or on-campus employees tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.
UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND EVENTS
Upcoming events
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Managing Staff Through Stressful Situations, Thursday at noon (Sponsored by HR Wellness)
UC NEWS
UC applauds Office for Civil Rights’ affirmation of Title IX protections for gay and transgender students and employees
University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D. issued a statement on the Office for Civil Rights’ recent announcement affirming Title IX protections for gay and transgender students and employees.
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, OC Register and Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Delta variant grew 40% in California last week
The Delta strain had previously barely registered on the weekly new variants count posted by the CA Department of Public Health. But the number of cases related to Delta and related variants discovered in the state rose from 286 to 399. That’s about a 40% rise week-over-week. The total is, of course, still tiny compared to the 3 million-plus infections from other strains in the region.
CDC to discuss if heart ailment is linked to vaccines
Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss reports linking heart inflammation to the coronavirus vaccine in youths and young adults. Doctors who have treated such cases say they’re easily treated and most affected people have recovered. Advisors will discuss the link and whether the benefits of vaccination outweigh any risks.
Encouraging milestones on coronavirus deaths and shots
COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. have dipped below 300 a day for the first time since the early days in March 2020, while the drive to put shots in arms approached another encouraging milestone: 150 million Americans fully vaccinated.
Over 70% of Americans age 30 or older have received vaccine
More than 70% of Americans age 30 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. A White House official said it is now redoubling its focus on vaccinating younger Americans age 18-26, who have proved to be least likely to get a vaccine when it’s available for them.
White House to share 55 million vaccines abroad
The Biden administration announced a plan for allocating an additional 55 million COVID-19 vaccines globally by the end of this month. Approximately 41 million of the 55 million doses will be shared through COVAX, with 14 million for Latin American and Caribbean countries, 16 million for Asia, 10 million for Africa.
HOPE, INSPIRATION, LAUGHTER
Delta pilot finds note from pilot who last flew plane
A pilot assigned to "wake up" a Delta plane that had been in storage since the early days of the pandemic came across a moving little note from the pilot who had been the last to fly it, all the way back on March 23, 2020. After musing about the strange reality of the pandemic, Capt. Chris Dennis offered this hopeful sentiment: "If you are here to pick it up then the light must be at the end of the tunnel. Amazing how fast it changed. Have a safe flight bringing it out of storage!"
#UCIconnected
The All-truism project, which is supported through a Barnes & Noble College Scholarship, aims to create connections through community, compassion and the creative arts. In this series, Anteaters write letters to faculty and staff.
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.