Sept. 19 - UCI’s fall COVID protocols; undocumented Latinos and ER visits
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The Langson Library and its reflection glimmer in the late summer sun. Photo by Ian Parker
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
UCI announces fall COVID-19 protocols
In a campuswide message today, UCI announced that it is adjusting COVID-19 protocols for fall quarter. Among the changes: Daily symptom check emails will be discontinued as of Thursday and the PCR testing site will close on Oct. 28, although antigen test kits will still be available to all students and employees. Contact tracing will continue, and close contacts will be notified; however, classroom or meeting exposure notices will be discontinued. As they become available, the new bivalent booster shots will be required under the UC Vaccine Policy. Finally, face coverings, which are available for free at different locations around campus, continue to be recommended indoors for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
Annie Ro, associate professor of health, society & behavior, found a pattern of reluctance by undocumented Latinos to seek treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Undocumented Latinos less likely to seek ER treatment early in pandemic, research shows
A team of UCI researchers led by Annie Ro, an associate professor of health, society & behavior, found that undocumented Latino patients’ emergency department utilization saw a dramatic decrease during the three months following the initial stay-at-home orders and the public charge rule change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – even more than their documented Latino patient counterparts. Nationally, emergency department usage plummeted roughly 42% from March to April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The UCI team set out to determine the decline specific to Los Angeles County, which is home to nearly 880,000 undocumented immigrants and has the second largest health system of any county in the U.S.
National Preparedness Month: Week 3 – Emergency Response Procedures
This week’s focus is on emergency response procedures. Being prepared for emergencies enables you to quickly respond and increases your chances of survival. Visit UCI’s emergency preparedness website for helpful tips. Additionally, review UCI’s emergency response procedures for situations such as an earthquake or fire, steps to evacuate persons with disabilities, or what to do if you receive a suspicious package. Test your knowledge by taking a scavenger hunt for an opportunity to win a $50 gift card.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
UC investments close fiscal year at $152 billion
On Sept. 16, the University of California’s Office of the Chief Investment Officer announced that its assets under management stood at $152.3 billion as of June 30, 2022, down from $168 billion a year ago. Since 2014, however, the portfolios have grown by $57.4 billion, or 60.5%. The UC’s investment portfolios are spread across six unique financial products, each of which addresses the needs of UC students, staff, retirees and the 10 campuses and five medical centers.
EVENTS
Guinness World Records Attempt: Largest Red Light-Green Light Attempt
Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. (sponsored by ASUCI Events)
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.
8 Potential Bivalent Omicron Booster Side Effects to Anticipate, Experts Say
Good Housekeeping, Sept. 17
Cited: Shruti Gohil, associate medical director of infection prevention at UCI Health
Opinion: Why recalling progressive prosecutors is the wrong idea
The Orange County Register, Sept. 16
Cited: Jon Gould, dean of the School of Social Ecology and professor of criminology
Federal Reserve to keep interest rates above 4% beyond 2023, economists predict
Financial Times, Sept. 17
Cited: Eric Swanson, professor of economics
#UCICONNECTED
Arriving students made their way to new housing over the weekend. Photo by Steve Zylius / UCI
UCI completes Welcome Week move-in
Over the weekend, about 6,400 students moved into campus housing. The fall quarter kickoff continues with Welcome Week leading up to the first day of instruction on Thursday. #UCIWelcome
#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.