July 22 - Updates on COVID-19

CAMPUS SNAPSHOT

The inspiration for Angry Birds? Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI

UCI UPDATES

New positive cases

Two campus employees tested positive for COVID-19. Any contacts are being notified and the employees are recovering in isolation. A cumulative case count for UCI campus employees and students is maintained at www.uci.edu/coronavirus.

UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND STORIES

Infection detectives

UCI trains contact tracers to disrupt COVID-19 transmission – with an emphasis on health equity issues.

UC UPDATES

Survey tracks young adult views on election amid pandemic

The University of California asked 18- to 24-year-old Californians about their political and civic engagement as the 2020 general election approaches.

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.

Satire: The Onion pokes fun at reactions to the pandemic

The humor website’s recent fake headlines include “City enters Phase 4 of pretending coronavirus over” and “Man throws caution to the wind by touching elevator button with bare finger.”

When a deaf man couldn’t read others’ lips, he created a better mask

To solve the problem, he created masks with a clear plastic rectangle in the middle. He’s sold hundreds so far.

COMMUNITY UPDATES & NEWS

Note: Some news organizations require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times and Wall Street Journal for students, faculty and staff.

CDC chief says he ‘absolutely’ would send his grandkids back to school

“I think there really are a number of negative public health consequences that have happened to our K-12 [students] by having these schools close,” Dr. Robert Redfield told ABC’s Good Morning America.

Herd immunity at 20%?

A team of mathematicians calculates that the spread of the virus might slow downdramatically after 20% of the population becomes infected and develops immunity. If that proves correct, it would be life-altering news.

Isolating the elderly is bad for their health

A lack of social interaction is linked to heart disease, worsening dementia and a shorter life expectancy.

FBI hostage negotiator: How to persuade people to wear masks

Hint: Shame and yelling don’t work.

How to actually talk to anti-maskers

When health advice changes, “We rarely admit that we are pulling a 180,” one expert said. “We don’t apologize. Instead, we cast judgments and say, ‘OK, you’re not wearing a mask now and you are irresponsible and a bad person.’ That destroys credibility, creates confusion, and it alienates people.”

The best and worst choices for a cloth face mask

Choose tightly woven cotton, avoid bandanas and add extra layers for more protection, experts suggest.

U.S. promises vaccines will be free or cheap

Any COVID-19 vaccine sponsored by the U.S. government will be free or affordable for Americans, according to the U.S. Health and Human Services.

U.S. and Pfizer reach deal to produce vaccine doses

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense announced an agreement with Pfizer for “large-scale production and nationwide delivery of 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States following the vaccine’s successful manufacture and approval.” The vaccine still needs to complete its Phase 3 clinical trial.

UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List

KQED, July 21, 2020
Airborne spread would mean more coronavirus risk Inside. Here are tips to protect yourself

Voice of OC, July 21, 2020
OC community groups partner with working class neighborhoods to combat coronavirus surge

MedScape, July 21, 2020
No ‘tidal wave’ of new mental illness; pandemic exacerbates preexisting conditions

Civil and Structural Engineering, July 22, 2020
What labs can teach us about safely returning to offices

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