June 9 - Updates on COVID-19
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UCI UPDATES
Anteater Insider: Prof. Bernadette Boden-Albala on coming back to campus
UCI is reengaging operations and more people are getting ready to come back to campus, with university leaders generating plans and implementing measures to ensure a smooth, safe transition. Bernadette Boden-Albala, the director and founding dean of UCI’s Program in Public Health, talks with the Anteater Insider about those plans, where Orange County stands on COVID-19, and why it’s safe to return to campus.
Virtual Retirement Celebrations
It’s the time of year when many of us look forward to celebrating milestones – graduations, birthdays, births, weddings, retirements and more. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and out of an abundance of caution and concern for the health of everyone in our community, UCI Health has made the difficult decision to prohibit in-person celebratory gatherings at this time. Please consider honoring our colleague’s years of service with virtual celebrations.
UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND STORIES
Claire Trevor School of the Arts offers Summer Academies LITE
In the last several months the arts have been hit particularly hard because so much of the work we do requires physical closeness and interaction. While our traditional summer program on the UCI campus has been cancelled this year to prioritize the health and safety of our participants, instructors, and staff, we still need to support our community of artists. The Summer Academies LITE program is a free modified version of our in-person Summer Academies in the Arts that focuses on college admissions preparation and professional development opportunities for students in a virtual learning environment.
UCI Campus Recreation offers digital summer camp
Campus Recreation is offering an interactive digital summer camp experience for children ages 8-13. Our experts will lead kids in a variety of unique and engaging activities like DIY Projects, cooking, STEM learning, illustrating techniques, digital photography, foreign language, wellness and more. Each weekly camp will offer three one-hour sessions that will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Visit Campus Recreation Youth Programs to register and learn more about REC Kids Summer Camp.
UCI COVID-19 VIRTUAL EVENTS
Plagues of the Past, Lessons for the Present
The School of Humanities continues with its series “COVID-19: The Humanities Respond” with the next installment, Plagues of the Past, Lessons for the Present. The event takes place June 11 and features Zina Giannopoulou and Deanna Shemek, Departments of Classics and European Languages & Studies.
Developing Grit: Strategies for Success in Work and Life
UCI Wellness offers its next event in its COVID-19 webinar series, Developing Grit: Strategies for Success in Work and Life. Grit is mental toughness. Grit is the ability to persevere to achieve difficult long-term goals. Grit is strongly associated with success in personal and professional life. Grit involves several elements: passion and purpose, development of habits and coping with unpleasant emotions such as fear, discouragement or embarrassment. This course will examine the nature of grit and identify specific methods for developing it. The event takes place Thursday, June 11 from noon to 1 p.m. Registration is required.
UC UPDATES
Newly funded COVID-19 research aims to protect the most vulnerable
With many research projects forced into hiatus, the University of California’s Research and Innovation division launched an effort to accelerate urgently needed breakthroughs to address the pandemic. This week, UC announced the successful completion of a whirlwind effort to award $2 million in seed funding to research across the state aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19, particularly among those at greater risk for infection and adverse outcomes.
COMMUNITY UPDATES & NEWS
Orange County Public Health Officer resigns under pressure over mask order
Orange County’s Public Health Officer Nicole Quick abruptly resigned on Monday night after several intense weeks defending a mask order that quickly became controversial. Quick is the third high ranking county health care agency executive to leave their post in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Amid virus, US students look to colleges closer to home
As students make college plans for the fall, some U.S. universities are seeing more interest from in-state residents who are looking to stay closer to home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Virus exposes sharp economic divide: College vs. non-college
The damage inflicted on the job market since February has highlighted a widening line of inequality based on education. In a nation in which a majority of workers lack a degree, college graduates are far more likely to be inoculated from the pain.
New daily COVID-19 cases worldwide hit a record high
The World Health Organization warns that the pandemic appears to be worsening globally.
Asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 still unknown
To clear up some confusion surrounding an official’s comments that the spread of COVID-19 by asymptomatic people “appears to be rare,” the World Health Organization said “this is a major unknown” and there is still much to learn about the possible asymptomatic spread of coronavirus.
New Zealand is now free of coronavirus
There are no known novel coronavirus cases in New Zealand for the first time since COVID-19 arrived in the country on Feb. 28, following confirmation that the country’s last remaining case had recovered.
22 states are seeing a jump in coronavirus cases
Across the nation, 22 states have seen a recent jump in coronavirus cases as more restrictions are lifted and people continue to socialize and protest. Florida has seen one of the biggest spikes in new cases.
US government’s supply of COVID-19 drug remdesivir runs out at end of month
The US government’s supply of the only proven COVID-19 drug (remdesivir) runs out at the end of the month according to Dr. Robert Kadlec, a US Department of Health and Human Services official.
Health & Human Services announces new laboratory data reporting guidance for COVID-19 Testing
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new guidance that specifies what additional data must be reported to HHS by laboratories along with COVID-19 test results. The Guidance standardizes reporting to ensure that public health officials have access to comprehensive and nearly real-time data to inform decision making in their response to COVID-19.
Get tested for coronavirus if you’ve been to a protest, health officials urge
The director of public health for Los Angeles County, Barbara Ferrer, urged those who have been a part of any large crowd where people didn’t wear face coverings, and were in close contact for at least 15 minutes, to get tested, but not too early after attending a large event, as “you’re likely to test negative.”
Bars, gyms and haircutters can begin opening this Friday
Bars, gyms, hair salons and barbershops can begin reopening this Friday after Gov. Gavin Newsom eased some statewide restrictions during the novel coronavirus pandemic. He said it’s up to county health officers if they want to allow the businesses to reopen or not.
California to allow pro sports, day camps as shutdowns ease
California broadly relaxed its coronavirus-related shutdowns moving to allow professional sports to be played without audiences and reopen day camps, tribal casinos, museums and zoos as soon as June 12.
Film and television production can restart June 12
California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed guidelines for film and television productions to resume in Hollywood as soon as June 12, subject to the approval of county public health officers where the work will take place.
Wine tasting may resume
Governor Newsom issued orders to allow wine tasting to resume in California. The new protocols permit only about 20 percent of the visitors previously allowed inside a tasting area.
California OKs movie theaters to reopen with limited seats
As early as this Friday, movie theaters could decide to reopen in counties that have been allowed to accelerate the reopening of their economies. The new rules would limit the number of guests to 25% of the theater capacity or maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower.
COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-based Programs
The California Department of Public Health issued statewide guidance on the reopening of schools.
California Department of Education releases guidebook for reopening schools
The California Department of Education released a 62-page guidebookoutlining what it wants to see when schools start next school year. Some of the state’s wish list includes wearing masks and daily temperature checks for students and staff.
Executive order signed to help increase the availability of hand sanitizer and medical devices during the pandemic
Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will help increase the availability of over-the-counter drugs, hand sanitizer, and medical devices such as respirators, ventilators and masks.
California-based BYD North America to produce N95 masks for the state
Governor Newsom announced that BYD North America will begin shipping 150 million N95 masks to the state in the coming days for frontline workers. This contract will ensure the state has a sufficient supply of masks moving forward.
Nail salon advocates hold rally in Orange County
Yesterday, more than 100 people rallied in Orange County to call on Governor Newsom to address reports that the first community spread of COVID-19 may not have been at a nail salon and to announce the reopening plan for shops.
UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List
Orange County Register, June 8, 2020
More than masks: 7 ways coronavirus rearranged retailing
The New York Times, June 8, 2020
How to feed crowds in a protest or pandemic? The Sikhs know
Orange County Register/Coast Magazine, June 8, 2020
The kids are OK? Make mental health a priority at home.
Inside Higher Ed, June 8, 2020
Protecting vulnerable students during the pandemic
Orange County Register/Coast Magazine, June 8, 2020
Good eats, good stories. The culinary community’s good deeds inspire others to act
MORE INFORMATION
OC-COVID19.org - powered by UCI and UCI Health, a website devoted to providing timely, useful, evidence-based information about the novel coronavirus pandemic to our friends and neighbors across Orange County
UCI Coronavirus Information Hub - more information on campus status and operational updates
UCI Health COVID-19 Updates - important information related to UCI Health