March 30 - UCI COVID metrics; 50 years of Title IX

Setting the purple and gold standard: A view of the Information & Computer Science building. Photo by Ian Parker

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

What metrics are UCI using to decide on changes to COVID-19 prevention measures on campus?

David Souleles, director of the UCI COVID-19 Response Team, answers that question in today’s UCI COVID Minute video. Please note that numbers he mentions were valid as of March 21.

UCI Podcast: Celebrating Paula Smith’s unique path on the 50th anniversary of Title IX

The director of intercollegiate athletics discusses her journey, being labeled a “pioneer,” what has changed and what still needs to change for women in sports.

Surgery cures an artist’s seizures

Diagnosed with a treatment-resistant seizure disorder, artist Alan Powell was referred to the UCI Health Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Orange County’s only academic epilepsy program and one of the leading epilepsy centers in Southern California. Powell soon realized that his medical team was determined not only to stop his convulsions, but also to restore his creativity and quality of life — outcomes he’d thought were unattainable.

UCI researchers first to sample permafrost CO2 emissions during fall and winter

In new research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a UCI-led team reported for the first time direct measurements of the gasses emitted from permafrost during fall and winter months. These measurements can help fill in gaps in permafrost emissions estimates that climate scientists have until now missed.

UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS

US approves second booster shot for people 50 and older

That age group is now eligible for another shot of either the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines four months after their last dose, the Food and Drug Administration announced. Health officials cited Israeli studies showing that second boosters increased antibody levels and protection against death during the country’s omicron wave. 

New federal website aims to help people get antiviral pills

The search for vaccines, tests and treatments could get easier with today’s launch of COVID.gov, a website meant to be a one-stop shop for everything from free high quality masks to antiviral pills. Highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death among people who are at high risk of severe disease from COVID infection, the pills have to be taken within the first five days of the onset of symptoms.

Contact tracing may have averted 1.4 million US COVID cases in 2 months

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention modeling study used data from 59 U.S. case investigation and contact tracing programs to estimate that the programs prevented 1.11 million to 1.36 million cases and 27,000 to 34,000 hospitalizations over 60 days in winter 2020-21, well before the delta and omicron variant surges.

EVENTS

“Malka Germania”
Friday, noon (sponsored by Illuminations: The Chancellor’s Arts & Culture Initiative)

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.

How War in Ukraine Roiled Facebook and Instagram

The New York Times, March 30
Cited: David Kaye, clinical professor of law

Rainfall Totals: 1+ Inch of Rain in Parts of San Diego County Not Enough to Pull From Drought, Expert Says

NBC San Diego (video), March 29
Cited: Amir AghaKouchak, professor of civil and environmental engineering

Sleep is good for the brain. But what about napping? Research raises puzzling questions.

The Boston Globe, March 30
Cited: Sara Mednick, professor of cognitive science

#UCICONNECTED

Our final highlight for Women’s History Month is Chien-Shiung Wu, a Chinese American physicist who made significant contributions to the field of particle physics, which resulted in important applications in physics, as well as biology and medicine. #WomensHistoryMonth (from Twitter/UCI Graduate Division)

#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.

COVID-19 NOTIFICATION AND RESOURCES

12 new campus cases

On Tuesday, UCI recorded 12 new cases of COVID-19: Two employees and 10 students. For more information, visit the UCI COVID-19 dashboard.

Upload your vaccine and booster records

Student Record Upload

Employee Record Upload

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.

For COVID-19 questions

UCI Forward - information on campus status and operational updates

UCI Health COVID-19 Updates - important information related to UCI Health

UCI Health COVID-19 FAQs

UCI Coronavirus Response Center - available at covid19@uci.edu or via phone at (949) 824-9918

Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services - assistance with vaccines and vaccine uploads; available at contacttracing@uci.edu or via phone at (949) 824-2300

Program in Public Health chatline - answers to questions about COVID-19

For questions specific to your personal health situation, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider.