Jan. 10 - Student services modifications, testing locations update
Section 1
Raging waters: A king tide has water flowing upstream in San Diego Creek near the university. Photo by Ian Parker
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
As coronavirus surges, it’s time to ditch cloth masks
At this stage of the pandemic, “You have to mask better than before,” epidemiologist Andrew Noymer, associate professor of population health & disease prevention, tells the Orange County Register. “In the face of the highly transmissible omicron, the cloth masks are pure theater,” Noymer adds. “They don’t do anything .... the tiny particles squeeze between the threads of a cloth mask.”
Remote learning modifies student services
Willie Banks Jr., vice chancellor, Student Affairs, issued a Winter 2022 Update covering asymptomatic testing, booster doses, campus services and operations. “With the extension of remote instruction until Friday, Jan. 28,” he writes, “our goal is to continue to provide services to students with changes and modifications to those services based on public health guidance and operational needs.”
Testing locations page updated to reflect latest closures
Find out the days and hours COVID-19 testing is being conducted at the Student Center, Plaza Verde and the University Club. The latest update shows there is no testing today and Tuesday at the University Club, and all three locations are closed Monday, Jan. 17, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
UCI-led team develops new biopsy technology
A team led by UCI researchers has developed a new biopsy technology that can profile multiple tumor microenvironment biomarkers simultaneously. How the fluorescence imaging-based technology will help advance personalized disease diagnosis and treatment is detailed in today’s Nature Communications.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Orange County ERs struggle to keep up as COVID-19 cases continue spiking
While hospital wards and intensive care units aren't as slammed, staffing shortages and people jamming emergency rooms – some of whom are only seeking a COVID-19 test – have led to long wait times for ambulances dropping off patients.
Gov. Newsom wants to spend $2.7 billion on COVID-19 response efforts
The funding would be used to ramp up vaccine and booster administration, statewide testing and increase medical personnel. Drawing from an anticipated multi-billion dollar surplus, the new funding would be 60% more than what was provided in last year’s state budget to deal with the pandemic.
On COVID vaccinations, pope says healthcare is a 'moral obligation'
Pope Francis suggested today that getting vaccinated against the coronavirus was a "moral obligation" and denounced how people had been swayed by "baseless information" to refuse one of the most effective measures to save lives. His strongest words yet calling for people to get vaccinated came in a speech to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See, an annual event in which the pontiff takes stock of the world.
EVENTS
Globalize Your Study Abroad Experience: Study Abroad 101
Wednesday, noon (sponsored by Study Abroad Center)
Advanced Resume Writing
Wednesday, 2 p.m. (sponsored by Division of Career Pathways)
GRE Strategy Workshop
Wednesday, 6 p.m. (sponsored by Division for Continuing Education)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
The Metaverse’s Effects on Mental Health: Trivial or Troubling?
The Wall Street Journal, Jan. 9
Cited: Candice Odgers, professor of psychological science
Time is running out. Here’s how the climate movement can level up.
Vox, Jan. 10
Cited: David S. Meyer, professor of sociology, political science and planning, policy and design
The Bad Deal Democrats Should Take
The Atlantic, Jan. 8
Cited: Richard Hasen, Chancellor’s Professor of law and political science