August 21 - Updates on COVID-19

CAMPUS SNAPSHOT

Overcast day on campus. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI.

TODAY’S CAMPUS UPDATES

COVID-free streak continues at UCI

There have been no new positive employee cases for 9 days and one previously positive co-worker has returned to work. For a cumulative case count visit www.uci.edu/coronavirus.

UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND EVENTS

The future of museums

Museums are the cornerstones of our communities, hosting millions of visitors in person and virtually while providing meaningful and educational experiences for children, students and adults of all ages. They offer vital platforms for artists – society’s risk-takers, innovators and pioneers – to be seen and heard. Through their collections, programming and facilities, great museums are vibrant community centers as well as must-see destinations. But how do American museums bounce back? Kim Kanatani, the inaugural museum director of the UCI Institute and Museum of California Art, shares her thoughts.

UCI Black Alumni Chapter creates COVID-19 safety tip video

Alumnus Dr. Brad Anderson along with The Black Alumni Chapter created a COVID-19 Safety Tips Infotainment video that is fun and full of Anteater Pride.

Anteater Insider Live - new Zoom podcast series launches

Did you miss this week’s inaugural episode of Anteater Insider Live? You can still check out the recording here. Stephen Whelan, executive director of people services, discussed the origins of the COVID-19 symptom check app, while Dr. Marion J. Fedoruk of UCI Health talked about what happens after someone reports COVID-like symptoms. As a reminder, the daily symptom check-in will be mandatorystarting Monday. The next edition of Anteater Insider Live, on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at noon, will feature Matthew Gudorf from facilities management and Associate Professor Manabu Shiraiwa discussing indoor air quality.

UC UPDATES

UC resources during wildfires

As Californians cope with both the COVID-19 pandemic and devastating wildfires across the state, a reminder that UC has a variety of resources available to help. Emergency resources from UC’s benefits plans on UCnet provides details about the support and accommodations available to you, from emergency supplies of your essential prescriptions to loans from your voluntary retirement savings plan. Emotional support resources are available regardless of whether you are enrolled in UC benefits, including support through your Faculty and Staff Assistance Program. There is also helpful information about dealing with wildfire smoke from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. If you need extra assistance with your health benefits, please contact your plan directly. Customer service representatives will do their best to offer the help you need as quickly as possible.

UC Santa Cruz evacuates amid fires; students urged to shelter at the beach

A raging and unpredictable complex of wildfires forced authorities yesterday to order the evacuation of UC Santa Cruz, one of the few times students and faculty at a top California learning institution have been forced to flee from flames.

*Our thoughts are with the campus community at UCSC who are being impacted by the CZU and many other fires.

The window is closing to fill out the census

As of mid-August, less than 65 percent of California households had completed the census. If the count remains low, California officials warn that the state will lose seats in Congress, and billions of dollars in federal aid. The good news: It’s not too late to get counted. You can help by encouraging family and friends to fill out the census.

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. 

LA Philharmonic filmed concerts in an empty Hollywood Bowl, which you can stream for free

The LA Philharmonic announced a streaming series called “Sound/Stage” filmed at the Hollywood Bowl during its COVID-19 closure. The new concert series is free to stream and will roll out weekly starting Sept. 25.

GENERAL COVID-19 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 Health Care Agency announces star-studded Positive Vibes ad campaign

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is launching a new public service campaign designed to save lives by spreading positive vibes – not COVID-19 throughout the community. Downloadable social media assets for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter will be available for anyone to use and share at  www.ochealthinfo.com/positivevibes.

Orange County could exit coronavirus watch list on Saturday, which would start countdown for in-person schooling

Orange County is in the running to be removed from the state watch list for coronavirus-distressed counties, which, if downward trends continue, would happen Saturday, Aug. 22. That would start a 14-day countdown until Orange County schools could be cleared to resume in-person teaching by the second week of September. If the local school boards make that call, their K-12 students could be back in classrooms after Labor Day.

Teachers formally declared essential workers

The Trump administration has officially designated teachers as essential workers, in its effort to encourage schools to reopen for in-person instruction this fall.

Coronavirus deaths should drop soon

By next week, the CDC says that parts of the United States should start to see coronavirus deaths start to drop. This forecasted drop is due to mitigation methods like social distancing and wearing a mask.

Traffic continues to rise to pre-pandemic levels

A new study by the Southern California Association of Governments shows that traffic, which was 80% down in mid-April has gained back 70% of its volume by early August. The agency also noted that less people are taking public transportation due to the virus, making traffic even worse.

UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List

Times Higher Education, Aug. 20, 2020
Is the coronavirus undermining the intellectual foundations of the university?

CBS Los Angeles, Aug. 21, 2020 (Video)
Dozens of OC elementary schools allowed to reopen campuses

NBC4, Aug. 21, 2020 (Video)
Some Orange County elementary schools receive permission to reopen

Maclean’s, Aug. 20, 2020 (Opinion)
Opinion: Want to make better public-health citizens? Give people what feels good, now.

NPQ, Aug. 20, 2020
As schools turn to online learning, the impact of digital inequity grows

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, Aug. 21, 2020
Low-cost, rapid COVID-19 testing platform could be available across U.S. by year end

My News LA, Aug. 20, 2020
24 Orange County elementary schools receive permission to reopen

Los Angeles Times, Aug. 21, 2020
Coronavirus overshadows Trump’s legacy in office

Voice of OC, Aug. 19, 2020
More OC businesses might be able to reopen soon, state officials slated to release new guidelines

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