April 7 - Updates on COVID-19

CAMPUS UPDATES

UCI Health Affairs Shares Examples of UCI Ingenuity in Combating COVID-19

UCI Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Dr. Steve Goldstein offers several examples how as an academic medical center, UCI is embracing the challenge of innovation to combat COVID-19.

2020 UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge Moves to October

The fourth annual UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge, a ride, run and walk to support cancer research at the UCI Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been moved from Saturday, June 6, 2020 to Saturday, October 3, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UCI Building ‘Bridge’ Ventilators

To address the need of ventilators, UCI Health otolaryngologist Dr. Brian Wong and anesthesiologist Dr. Govind Rajan partnered with Tom Milner, acting director of the Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic, to design and build what they call a “bridge” ventilator that is an inexpensive, quick-to-manufacture device for intensive care units that have employed all their standard ventilators. It is now under review by the FDA.

UCI Arts and Sciences team up to Make Face Shields

Faculty from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts and the Henry Samueli School of Engineering have led an interdisciplinary team in the development, testing and production of a face shield that not only meets the necessary medical form, fit and functional requirements identified by hospital staff, but is inexpensive enough to be disposed after each patient interaction, the primary request from clinicians. Medical staff tested the prototypes to ensure that health system requirements were met. Upon that success, full-scale production began, and what started out as a small-scale 3D printing production of parts and assembly was transformed into a robust production operation at the University Partner Lab at UCI Beall Applied Innovation. It is expected that a first shipment of 5,000 masks will be delivered to the medical center in a few days.

UCI Law Students Take on New Pro Bono Projects in Wake of COVID-19

While much of that work was previously done at on-site legal clinics and in-office volunteering with legal services organizations, students have now shifted gears and are increasing their efforts to help those in need by adding remote pro bono activities, in light of the Coronavirus outbreak and California’s mandated physical distancing orders.

CAMPUS RESOURCES

Division of Career Pathways Services Available Remotely

The Division of Career Pathways continues to offer one-on-one career counseling appointments through both Zoom and phone as well as “virtual office hours” to temporarily replace in-person drop in times. All of these appointments can be scheduled directly through Handshake. If students are unable to find a session that meets their needs or schedule, please email career@uci.edu.

Campus Resources for Coping and Mental Wellness

In addition to the many self-care things to help with coping with the stress of the pandemic, one of those coping resources might be professional help. If you find that you are noticing depression, a worsening of a pre-existing mental health condition, an unshakeable anxiety, or any other symptoms that could use a professional lens to understand, please do not hesitate to reach out to campus resources, which are available to you even if you have left campus:

Students are encouraged to reach out to the Counseling Center by calling (949) 824-6457. During business hours (Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm), to schedule an appointment or for all other inquiries, leave a message and the office will call you back within 2 hours during normal business hours. If you cannot wait to be called back within 2 hours or are calling after business hours, select option 2 to speak with a counselor by phone.
Faculty and staff can reach out to our Employee Assistance Program by calling (844) 824-3273 or accessing wellness services, which also links to other campus resources.

HathiTrust Digital Library Expands Access to Online Collection

Millions of digitized books available through HathiTrust which are also in UC libraries’ collections are now available online to UC students, faculty, and staff. Use your UC credentials to login to the HathiTrust Digital Library, and then check-out in copyright books for online reading access for renewable one-hour loans. You can also still, as before, read and download public domain books at will. For questions contact Antoinette Avila, Library Assistant Supervisor/Ask a Librarian Manager, at aavila@uci.edu.

UCI Beall Applied Innovation Offers Session for Life Science Investors During COVID-19

On April 9, at 12 p.m. UCI’s Beall Center for Applied Innovation offers a virtual Q&A with Jeffry Weinhuff from Visionary Ventures on how life science investors view the current COVID-19 climate, what opportunities might arise and what healthcare innovations are more important than ever. Attendees must register for the event.

Schools are closed - Tips for Parents from UCI Health

School shutdowns and stay-at-home orders due to the novel coronavirus outbreak are leaving adults and kids alike stressed and overwhelmed. It’s taking a toll on our daily work, school and home routines. But it’s also a rare opportunity to strengthen relationships with children and teenagers at a time of crisis, says UCI Health child and adolescent psychologist Dr. Anju Hurria. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offer useful tips for one-on-one parenting to help tackle the disruption of routines and the boredom of being housebound. Read the blog, School’s out for COVID-19 from UCI Health.

Remote Teaching Resources from the EEE Team

The EEE team offers updates that pertain to remote teaching and educational continuity. Some of the most common questions are about:

School of Education offers Resources for all Educators

In an effort to ensure that the education of K12, community college, and university students is not compromised the School of Education launched an Online Learning Research Center, designed to provide evidence-based resources for educators, students and researchers to improve achievement and equity in online learning.

To further support the community during this unprecedented transition, the School of Education is compiling the relevant research, resources and materials of its faculty, staff and students into one website. This site will be updated regularly as additional tools and resources are developed to serve professors, students, K12 teachers and teacher educators, and more.

UCI Webinar on Economic Impact of COVID-19

The UCI Center for Population, Inequality and Policy presents a webinar on April 14, at 6 p.m., called Economic Impact of COVID-19: A National And Local Perspective. This event will be recorded live via Zoom and is intended for public audiences. Please register and a Zoom link will be provided prior to the event for confirmed registrants. For further information or questions, please contact Melissa Churlonis,m.churlonis@uci.edu.

Dr. Boden-Albala Participates in City of Irvine Press Conference

Watch the City of Irvine press conference regarding COVID-19 from April 6, 2020. Irvine Mayor Christina Shea was joined by UCI Dean Bernadette Boden-Albala, Vice Mayor Mike Carroll, and Police Chief Mike Hamel (UCI Alum) for a community update on COVID-19. Mayor Shea encouraged residents to continue to follow guidance on social distancing and to only go out when necessary and announced the city’s requirement of retail staff and clerks to utilize face masks in grocery stores and pharmacies. Dean Boden-Albala provided an overview of COVID-19 in the OC community by providing data on current cases, testing, and preparations by hospitals for the forthcoming surge of cases.

UCIMC UPDATES

DH 44 Inpatient Unit Opens Ahead of Schedule

On Friday, UCIMC opened the newly refurbished DH 44 inpatient unit. The unit opened a month ahead of schedule. DH 44 is a 16-bed cardiovascular surgery telemetry unit that includes state-of-the-art equipment and features.

UC UPDATES

UC launches grant program to spur urgently needed COVID-19 research

The University of California will provide $2 million in seed funding to scientists across the state to help jump-start their high-impact research projects and accelerate urgently needed breakthroughs to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

University of California Health Data Initiative Launches Daily Updates on COVID-19 Tests

The University of California Health will begin to distribute daily updates via its @UofCAHealth Twitter account about SARS-CoV-2 testing volume, the number of positive tests and age distribution of confirmed cases gathered from its five medical centers across the state.

COMMUNITY UPDATES AND NEWS

California Launched Statewide Donation Website

Governor Newsom has launched a website for organizations to donate, sell, or offer to manufacture large amounts of medical supplies to the state.

Governor Newsom Announces Alternative Healthcare Sites

Governor Newsom announced that the 4 sites: the Natomas Arena (Sacramento), the Fairview Developmental Center (Costa Mesa), the Porterville Developmental Center (Porterville), the San Carlos Hotel (San Carlos), and the California Pacific Medical Center – Pacific Campus (San Francisco), will be used as state-run alternative care sites for non-critical patients. These alternative care sites will be staffed by members of the California Health Corps.

CDC Launches New Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance Report

The CDC launched a new detailed COVID-19 Surveillance Report. These reports, issued weekly, will summarize key numbers and figures related to the pandemic, including the national number of tests conducted, hospitalizations, and deaths.

90% of Americans are “doing the right thing”

According to the US Surgeon General, “over 90% of the country is doing the right thing right now.” This includes staying home, practicing social distancing, and adopting other mitigation methods. He also said there is a light at the end of the tunnel, especially if people continue current practices.

Ayres Hotel Will No Longer House Homeless with COVID-19

Owners of the Ayres Hotel near Laguna Woods have asked to opt out of their contract to turn their hotel into a shelter for homeless people who may have coronavirus. This decision comes after a weekend of protests from local residents who opposed the use of the vacant hotel as a temporary homeless medical center, due to its proximity to a senior living community.

California Halts Lender Foreclosures and Renter Evictions

California’s Judicial Council put a 90-day freeze on lender foreclosures and renter evictions. This is an attempt to protect housing and minimize the court’s workload as the state abides by ‘stay at home’ orders and practices social distancing.

Construction for OC Streetcar and Freeway Projects Continues

Orange County’s Transportation Agency continues to push ahead with its construction projects, even taking advantage of fewer cars on the road. California has deemed construction workers as essential staff, yet additional safety protocols have been implemented.