July 27 - Updates on COVID-19

SPECIAL REPORT: ANSWERING THE CALL

The inside story of how UCI responded and adapted to the greatest crisis in its 55-year history. What began with worried discussions in January and daily strategy exercises in February exploded into action in March. “I’ve never been in a fighter jet,” one administrator recalled, “but I imagine it’s what it feels like when they kick in the afterburners.”

UCI UPDATES

New positive case

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

UCI COVID-19 VIRTUAL EVENTS

Cooking With Jessica: Dinner and dessert for breakfast

Chef Jessica Van Roo from the Anteater Test Kitchen will release her latest cooking video on Wednesday. On the menu: Miso Oat & Quinoa Porridge with Poached Egg; Rich Chocolate Zucchini Breakfast Brownie.

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.

Pandemic humor, 1918-style

A century before COVID memes and late-night talk show gags, the 1918 fluinspired skeptical satire, jokes and goofy pandemic poetry.

L.A. artist paints 1,800 flowers, ships them to hard-hit Brooklyn hospital

“I wanted every single employee … to have a painting to show how much they are loved and appreciated,” said the artist, who called his project “Strangers to No One.”

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.

OC’s Sunday ICU case level down from mid-July peak

After rising earlier this month, the number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care in Orange County hospitals dropped to 201 on Sunday, down from a July 15 peak of 245, according to Orange County Health Care Agency reports. Total hospitalizations, which peaked July 14 at 722, have declined in fits and starts to 687 on Sunday. Daily deaths have skidded from a peak of 15 on June 24 to two on Sunday (and zero or one per day from July 18 to 23).

What Arizona’s tenuous virus plateau could teach us

Is it possible to stabilize infections without going into full lockdown? The hardest-hit Sun Belt states are offering a real-time experiment.

Can we benefit from virus? Ask 14th-century Florence

Big disruptions can usher in big opportunities. But there are lessons and warnings from the past.

Staying at home means more ice cream, less deodorant, sales show

At least, that’s what Unilever sales reports showed over the last six months.

Total U.S. cases show signs of slowing

A glimmer of good news: The number of new cases reported Sunday was the lowest since July 6.

U.S. military’s Covid-19 cases rise

The number of coronavirus cases among members of the U.S. military increased by 1,647 over the weekend, an increase of nearly 7% from Friday. There are currently 25,590 active cases among military personnel.

National Covid-19 vaccine trials continue

As the first Phase 3 trial of a Covid-19 vaccine in the United States gets underway, Dr. Anthony Fauci said there will be dozens of sites nationwide where volunteers will be participating in the study.

Virus hits Huntington Beach Police Department

Eleven Huntington Beach police officers and one civilian employee have tested positive for COVID-19 while 25 city workers have been quarantined for exposure to the virus since late June.

New safeguards for essential workers

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a host of new safeguards for California workers who face the greatest risk of COVID-19.

How to easily add polypropylene filter to your mask

Adding such a filter can improve protection up to 70%, experts say.

Virus made college students more anxious, depressed

During spring break, when student stress levels typically fall and sleep levels rise, rates of depression and anxiety soared, researchers said. The study used an app to track student behavior.

UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List

ABC7, July 25, 2020 (Video)
Orange County community members undergo training to conduct contact tracing in COVID hotspots

GMA, July 27, 2020
Tips for boosting your child’s mental health during COVID-19

Orange County Register, July 27, 2020 (Opinion)
Opinion: As the coronavirus spreads in Orange County, we have a choice

NPR, July 25, 2020
As concerns about voting build, the Supreme Court refuses to step in

Voice of OC, July 24, 2020
Gov. Newsom bolsters stock of coronavirus isolation rooms for OC frontline workers

Daily Pilot, July 24, 2020
Organizers at UCI collect donations to help prisoners released early to help stop COVID-19 spread in jails

Government Executive, July 27, 2020 (Podcast)
GovExec Daily: Physical cash and the pandemic

C&EN, July 27, 2020
COVID-19 is probably more deadly to men than women, but scientists still aren’t sure why

Becker’s Hospital Review, July 24, 2020
What 2 IT execs anticipate needing 12 months from now

The Hill, July 27, 2020
100 days out, parties fear chaotic election

The Hill, July 27, 2020
Trump, Biden build legal armies for electoral battlefield

BYU Radio, July 24, 2020 (Audio)
Fake news isn’t just misleading. It can create false memories.

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