April 17 - Updates on COVID-19

UCI UPDATES

Dates Extended for Campus Staff Face Coverings Distribution

In order to assist campus departments in providing face coverings to essential workers, EH&S will be scheduling PPE/cotton face covering pick up services on the dates listed below. Once you receive an email confirmation, please go to EH&S to pick up the face coverings. When picking up the supplies, please adhere to appropriate social distancing practices. Note: Student Affairs will be distributing face coverings to students. EH&S pick-ups are for campus essential employees only.

DATES: April 20 - April 24, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Environmental Health & Safety Department (4600 Health Sciences Road - Building 41 on the campus map)

HOW: Have your supervisor email a request with the department name and number of employees to safety@uci.edu. EH&S will respond with a pick up day and time for the request.

Tax Information for UCI Employees Working Out of State

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some UCI employees who normally work in California may now be working outside of the state. Employees who fall into this category may qualify for state taxes in the state they reside while telecommuting. Please seek advice from your tax advisor if you have questions or concerns about changing your tax filing status. If this work situation applies to you and you would like to change your state residency for tax purposes, please follow these steps.

UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND STORIES

Campus Labs Produce Sample-preserving Fluid for COVID-19 Test Kits

UCI Health has recently experienced increased demand for VTM – a fluid needed for COVID-19 tests – as medical staff have been conducting about 300 COVID-19 tests per day. Each test kit vial contains 2 milliliters of the VTM fluid, so the system’s current daily requirement is approximately 600 milliliters. Logistics officials at UCI Medical Center in Orange realized that they would eventually exhaust their supply of VTM, so they asked if researchers on the UCI campus would be able to synthesize the solution on an ongoing basis. A mini task force was formed on campus, resources were marshalled, and laboratory staff began production. UCI is now able to produce enough VTM to furnish the UCI Health system’s needs, and there’s enough to be made available to other healthcare providers around Orange County.

UCI Law Receives $50,000 in Donations to Establish COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for Students

The University of California, Irvine School of Law has received two $25,000 gifts. One from Hueston Hennigan LLP, and one from the AccessLex Institute. These generous gifts will serve as a COVID-19 emergency relief fund for UCI Law students during this unprecedented time.

UCI Health Offers Recipes to Make with Kids

Healthy meals for kids needn’t skimp on flavor. And when children participate in the cooking, too, you’re engaging in family-bonding that can relieve the stress of being housebound during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

UC UPDATES

President Napolitano updates state leaders on the financial impact of COVID-19

In a letter to state lawmakers, University of California President Janet Napolitano outlines the fiscal impact COVID-19 has had to the UC system.

COMMUNITY UPDATES & NEWS

WHO Sets 6 Conditions For Ending A Coronavirus Lockdown

The WHO has released a list of criteria necessary for a nation to transition toward a sustainable state of low or no transmission.

California governor expects $7 billion in virus spending

California lawmakers will hold their first oversight hearing to examine how Governor Gavin Newsom has spent more than $2 billion in taxpayer money in just one month to combat the coronavirus crisis.

SoCal Nurses Suspended

Several Southern California nurses were suspended after they refused to enter coronavirus patient’s rooms without N95 respirator masks, the National Nurses Union said this week.

CA may have its First All Mail Election

California is headed toward its first all-mail statewide election in November to protect voters and precinct workers from the coronavirus. All-mail elections are likely to become the “new normal” for California even after COVID-19.

New Guidelines for States Aimed at Reopening

President Trump unveiled new guidelines for states looking to lift coronavirus restrictions. During a phone call with all 50 governors, a three-phase approach to gradually bring back parts of public life was outlined. Some states that don’t have a lot of cases, like Montana and North Dakota, could reopen soon.

Orange County Government Expects to Receive $540 Million From Feds

Officials estimate that the Orange County government will get at least $540 million in federal stimulus money to support its COVID-19 response. The first part of the installment may come as early as next week and comes as part of the CARES Act.

Gilead Sciences Data Finds Remdesivir Effective in Treating Coronavirus

According to a new report, very ill coronavirus patients that are treated with Remdesivir are showing promising and quick results. At one clinical trial site at the University of Chicago Medical Center, most patients went home in as little as six days after being treated with the medication.

FDA Approves At-Home Swab for Coronavirus Testing

People might be able to self-test for coronavirus using a newly designed Q-tip-style swab. The US Food and Drug Administration worked with US Cotton to design the swabs, which are much shorter than the swabs used by technicians. These at-home tests could ultimately limit exposure of the virus to those on the frontlines.

Governor Newsom Announces Additional Protection for Food Sector Workers

In an executive order issued yesterday, Governor Newsom announced that food sector workers such as grocery store, fast food chain and delivery driver workers will get two weeks of supplemental paid sick leave if subject to quarantine or isolation. The order also increases the health and safety standards at food facilities, permitting workers to wash their hands every 30 minutes, or as needed, to protect consumers.