Nov. 15 - Strike update and resources, open enrollment ends Friday
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Aldrich Park glows green and purple on a clear day. Photo by Dennis Melka
In this continuing series, UCI experts answer questions about COVID-19, variants, monkeypox, vaccinations, and the future of work. Submit questions via email.
Today’s question is answered by David Souleles, director of UCI’s Campus Public Health Response Team.
I think I have symptoms of COVID-19. Where can I get a COVID-19 test?
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, it’s important that you stay home and test for the virus. You have a few options for testing.
- Take a home antigen test and, if you are positive, follow instructions for reporting a positive test result to campus. Antigen tests are available for free to students and employees at various locations on campus, and are available for purchase from local pharmacies and online (check with your insurance provider regarding reimbursement for purchasing home antigen tests). It’s a good idea to have test kits on hand at home for when you need them.
- Schedule a PCR test at a local pharmacy, clinic or primary care provider. If you are positive, follow instructions for reporting a positive test result to campus.
- Follow the instructions and prompts on the UCI Forward Symptom Check page, which may include scheduling a COVID-19 test through the Student Health Center (for students) or Occupational Health (for employees).
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
UCI strike update and resources
As the United Auto Workers strike continues across UC campuses, and while the University continues to negotiate in good faith, UCI remains committed to instructional and research continuity. The Provost's Continuity Resources webpage offers information for students, instructors and researchers. Academic student employees, graduate student researchers, postdoctoral scholars and academic researchers are valuable members of the UCI community. UCI appreciates everyone’s patience and flexibility as the university continues to advance its critical teaching and research missions during this challenging time.
Presentation matters – but not necessarily the way you think
In the latest Dennin Insights post, Vice Provost Michael Dennin investigates the conflation of presentation norms with true academic standards to illustrate the limitations caused by unfair expectations and implicit biases in academia.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Open enrollment ends Friday
Open enrollment is coming to an end. Employees have until 5 p.m. this Friday to enroll or make changes to their benefits. Just select "faculty & staff" or "retirees" on the Open Enrollment website.
COVID-19 booster rate among kids remains low
Higher COVID-19 vaccination rates among U.S. children could prevent thousands of pediatric hospitalizations and millions of missed school days, according to an analysis published Tuesday. If COVID-19 booster coverage reached 80% among school-age children by the end of the year, more than 50,000 hospitalizations could be averted.
Population of Earth reaches 8 billion
There are now 8 billion people on Earth, according to a new U.N. report. The world reached 7 billion people in 2011, and the U.N. predicts it will not reach 9 billion for another 15 years. People around the world are living longer and having fewer children. Those are just a few of the trends the United Nations described in a report on the world's population.
EVENTS
Donate blood
Wednesday and Thursday (sponsored by UCI Health)
Preventing Employee Burnout
Thursday, noon (sponsored by HR Wellness)
Election in Review
Thursday, 5:30 p.m. (sponsored by School of Social Sciences)
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.
10 Leaders at the Center of Irvine’s Health Care
Irvine Standard, Nov. 9
Cited: Philip Felgner, director of Vaccine Research and Development Center
5 Must-Knows About the Winter Surge, According to Infectious Disease Specialists
Eat This, Not That!, Nov. 11
Cited: David M. Souleles, director of Campus Public Health Response
Philippe Jorion's effective risk management tips for huge returns
The Economic Times, Nov. 12
Cited: Philippe Jorion, Dean’s Professor of finance
#UCICONNECTED
You can call Christopher Marcum, Ph.D. ’11, a policy wonk. As assistant director for open science and data policy in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Marcum strives to make research findings more widely accessible and restore trust in science. That’s no small challenge. According to Pew Research, Americans’ trust in scientists and medical researchers declined during the pandemic, and today only 29% of Americans hold a “great deal of confidence” in them.
#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.