April 26 - Updates on COVID-19
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Green arches by the Multipurpose Science and Technology Building. Photo by Ian Parker
TODAY’S CAMPUS UPDATES
Good news on campus cases*
For the first time since Sept. 9, no students or on-campus employees are in isolation from COVID-19. Also, over the past week, no student residents or on-campus employees tested positive for COVID-19. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.
How to weigh in on UC’s proposed vaccine mandate
Students, faculty and staff can comment on the University of California’s proposed COVID-19 vaccine policy by email at CovidVaccinePolicyComments@ucop.edu.
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.
Pandemic is over in Britain, experts say
COVID in the U.K. has shifted from a pandemic to an endemic situation, where the virus is circulating at a low, largely controllable level.
Outdoor mask rule likely to be dropped by CDC
Dr. Fauci and other experts said the risk of catching the virus outside is very low, and the Biden Administration is getting ready to relax public health guidance on outdoor masks.
MyTurn site is bypassed for most vaccine appointments
Billed as a one-stop shop, California’s $50 million vaccination website has instead created nonstop problems. Only 27% of vaccinations booked each day use MyTurn.
California resumes J&J vaccinations
Officials announced Saturday that the state will resume administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Disneyland vaccine site to close April 30
The Anaheim super site will stop administering vaccinations on Friday as Disneyland and California Adventure reopen for business.
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.
Turning bananas into art
When the lockdown began, Anna Chojnicka started using bruising to create charming works of art on bananas.
#UCIconnected
Vaccine selfies
Today’s installment stars alumnus Dean K. Wong, medical student coordinator, simulation coordinator and interdepartmental resident coordinator for UCI Health’s Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care.
If you have a shoutout, or if you’d like to share what you’ve been up to during the pandemic, send photos and/or words about your COVID-19 vaccination, activities, workstation, volunteering, etc., to marketing@uci.edu or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.
EXPOSURE NOTIFICATION
* Potential workplace exposure: UCI provides this notification of a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure. Employees and subcontractors who were in these locations on the dates listed may have been exposed to the coronavirus. You may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University-specific policies and agreements. The full notification is available on the UCI Forward site. If you have been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case, the UCI Contact Tracing Program will contact you and provide additional direction.