October 29 - Updates on COVID-19
Section 1
A coronavirus PSA suitable for Halloween.
TODAY’S CAMPUS UPDATES
Case count
One employee was reported as testing positive for COVID-19 since our last newsletter. UCI’s campus coronavirus testing and case dashboard can be viewed on the UCI Forward website.
Revised case reporting instructions
Based on the CDC’s updated definition of “close contact” and revisions to UCI’s contact tracing program, UCI has updated its instructions for how to report a COVID-19 case on campus. Specifically, the definition for “exposure case” has been changed and items 2d and 3c are new.
Reminder: Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday
Enjoy an extra hour of slumber (or studying) and remember to set your clocks back an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday.
UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND EVENTS
Antibody study gets wide media coverage
ActOC, the UCI-led study that found a higher prevalence of coronavirus infections in Orange County than previously estimated, has received extensive news coverage, including from the Orange County Register, KCBS-TV, Voice of OC and KABC-TV.
GENERAL COVID-19 NEWS
This section curates noteworthy coronavirus news, trends and opinions. No endorsement by UCI is implied. Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and OC Register for students, faculty and staff
The hidden COVID health crisis: Elderly people dying from isolation
“Sometimes the doors to their rooms are open, and you just see someone sitting in a chair with tears running down their face,” one geriatrician and UCSF professor said. “People ask me, ‘Is this the rest of my life? If so, I don’t want to go on.’”
California predicted an October surge. It didn’t happen
Hospitalizations were supposed to double this month, according to state projections. Instead, they declined.
United Airlines to offer free COVID-19 tests on select routes
Starting with a four-week trial run on UA Flight 14 from London to New York, United Airlines will begin offering free coronavirus tests to passengers on select routes. Passengers must arrive three hours before the flight to receive the rapid test, which will produce results in 20 minutes.
Disneyland adding 23,000 health and safety measures
Disneyland plans to install more than 23,000 sanitizer stations, protective barriers and warning signs to prepare for its eventual reopening.
U.S. says it will pay for COVID vaccine for all Americans
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it will pay for any COVID-19 vaccine that is authorized or approved by the FDA. The agency also announced it would pay for a larger portion of COVID-19 treatments.
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.
The ultimate socially distanced office
Complete with a water cooler, working computer, hand sanitizer and file cabinet, this offbeat office floats in New York City’s East River. The only thing missing is a restroom.
#UCIconnected
What have you been up to during the pandemic? Send photos and/or words about your activities, workstation, volunteering or academic adventures to marketing@uci.edu or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.