Illinois Featured Content

The study was conducted by Ian Ludden, graduate student; Janet A. Jokela, interim executive associate dean of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine; Sheldon H. Jacobson, professor of computer science. Photo by Michelle Hassel

Second year of pandemic deadlier for middle aged than the first, analysis finds

Nov 17, 2022 9:15 am

The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was deadliest for those over 65, while the second year was deadlier for middle-aged adults, even with COVID-19 deaths removed, a new U of I analysis found.

No more face-to-face instruction, students asked to move home

Mar 17, 2020 10:15 am

We still intend to resume instruction using alternative delivery methods beginning Monday, March 23.

Model shows how COVID could become endemic, like colds, flu

Dec 15, 2021 9:15 am

Scientists have developed an epidemiological model that encompasses the randomness and dynamic variability of individual social interactions, which will continue to produce waves and plateaus in infection rates.

Photo of a hand holding a black rectangular testing device.

Portable, affordable, accurate, fast: Team invents new COVID-19 test

May 18, 2021 9:30 am

Many of the components of the hand-held device used in this technology can be 3D-printed, and the test can detect as little as one viral particle per 1-microliter drop of fluid.

Smell, taste challenge offered as early detection tool for COVID

Jan 25, 2021 4:15 pm

People can use their morning coffee and a web-based tool to monitor changes in their senses of smell and taste, which may be early warning signs they've been exposed to the coronavirus.

COVID testing sign in a snowy campus setting. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Important return-to-campus information for students

Jan 13, 2021 9:00 am

In order to participate in on-campus activities beginning Jan. 24, it is required that all students, faculty, staff and scholars receive two negative on-campus test results, no sooner than three days apart between Jan. 15-24.

Professor Allison Vance teaches in a mask and with students dispersed to safe distances. Photo by Fred

U of I COVID response: What we learned, how we adapted

Dec 14, 2020 9:00 am

Our decisions and operations were adjusted regularly along the way based on what we learned, in response to data we gathered and to react to changing circumstances related to changes in local, state and federal guidance.

A gloved hand places saliva testing samples in a tray at Illinois. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Chancellor, Provost offer reflections on 1 million COVID-19 tests at Illinois

Dec 14, 2020 9:30 am

In the space of just a few months, we built a comprehensive testing, tracing and monitoring infrastructure and ecosystem that is unmatched anywhere in the country.

new, smaller test tubes. Photo illustration by Michael Vincent

Revised process speeds on-campus COVID-19 testing

Dec 4, 2020 2:00 pm

The new process, using a straw and a smaller test tube, will allow for faster lab processing, fewer invalid/inconclusive results, and less plastic waste.

A patient listens to instructions from a worker at a pop-up COVID-19 test site conducted at the Rantoul Parks and Recreation Department. Photo by Fred Zwicky

Projects offer COVID-19 testing, explore virus transmission's social factors

Dec 2, 2020 1:30 pm

A group of Illinois researchers is investigating the structural, economic and sociocultural factors that impact transmission and response to the disease among essential agricultural laborers in rural communities like Rantoul, Illinois.

Professor Abigail Wooldridge gives Chancellor Robert Jones a tour of the facility. Photo by Fred Zwicky

New mobile COVID-19 lab prototype completed

Nov 6, 2020 8:00 am

The Grainger College of Engineering has completed the prototype for a mobile laboratory, called mobileSHIELD, designed to demonstrate a way to rapidly deploy I-COVID, the saliva-based test for COVID-19 developed at Illinois.

COVID-19 testing locations, hours for fall, winter break

Nov 4, 2020 10:30 am

On-campus testing will continue to be available throughout Fall Break, the rest of the Fall semester and Winter Break. But be sure to check the testing location page or your Safer Illinois app before heading to your usual location.

Safer Illinois app displayed on smart phone. Mock up/graphics by Michael Vincent

Safer Illinois app available for faculty, staff, students

Aug 13, 2020 8:45 am

The app provides users their personalized coronavirus-testing results, testing reminders, and a display of their current testing status - needed to gain entry to campus facilities - all without showing any personalized health information.

U of I's rapid saliva test for COVID-19 gains FDA Emergency Use Authorization

Aug 19, 2020 3:00 pm

'This has potentially game-changing implications for our statewide testing program as well as for testing on a national level. I’m so proud - but not at all surprised - to see this type of groundbreaking work come out of our own U of I,' said Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

signs outside the Illini Union display safety messages - wear a mask, socially distance, wash your hands

Students' first steps back to campus life

Aug 12, 2020 10:00 am

Everyone on our campus has to do their part to keep our community steps, from planning your move-in to testing immediately upon arrival and picking up your PPE kit.

#IveGotYouCovered

Jul 9, 2020 10:15 am

Take the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois Community Pledge and show that you’re doing your part to maintain the well-being of yourself and your family, friends, colleagues, classmates, university and community.

students view data on the 40-projector display wall at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois Photo by Jason Lindsey

CHIME puts students to work on COVID-related data science projects

Aug 4, 2020 9:15 am

A new international public health initiative at Illinois is bringing students together to work on data-information projects that will help public health agencies with COVID-19-related data analysis.

Dr. Robin Holland, a member of the campus COVID-19 research team, runs tests on saliva samples at the university’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Photo by Fred Zwicky

University outlines fall plans, remote instruction after fall break

Aug 3, 2020 9:30 am

Mandatory twice-weekly testing will be required for all faculty members, staff and students who participate in any on-campus activities. Nov. 20 will be the final day of in-person instruction for the semester.

a tent set up on the U of I campus for COVID-19 testing. Photo by Fred Zwicky

With hopes of safe reopening, U of I launches widespread COVID-19 testing

Jul 23, 2020 11:30 am

The school plans to offer free tests to the 50,000 students expected to return in August, plus the roughly 11,000 faculty and staff who work for the campus.

Gies College of Business professor Tatyana Deryugina

Projected hospital losses may outpace federal financial relief, research shows

Jul 16, 2020 10:45 am

Professor Tatyana Deryugina says hospitals may take more than three years to recover from the double blow of increased costs for care of COVID-19 patients and the revenue loss of elective procedures.

Close up of completed test being returned to a volunteer. Photo by Fred Zwicky

On-campus COVID-19 testing now available

Jul 8, 2020 10:30 am

COVID-19 testing is now available to all faculty, staff and students at two campus locations. The saliva test was developed at Illinois and results are available within 24 hours.

Volunteers at Illinois produce supplies for 200,000 COVID-19 tests

Jul 6, 2020 3:30 pm

A collaborative effort at the University of Illinois to support COVID-19 testing is winding down, but not before it produced enough materials to support some 200,000 coronavirus tests across the state.

Lab's hand sanitizer production helps U of I campus return safely

Jul 2, 2020 12:30 pm

Illinois will set up more than 2,000 hand sanitizer stations in preparation for the return of students and staff this fall. The hand sanitizer is produced on campus by the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab.

Chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Diwakar Shukla leads one of eight Illinois projects awarded funding from the C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute to help mitigate COVID-19. Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

Eight projects awarded funding for AI research to mitigate COVID-19

Jul 2, 2020 11:15 am

The institute will provide $5.4 million over the next year to projects that examine the medical, social and economic impacts of the novel coronavirus and inspire researcher collaboration in advanced machine learning and other AI disciplines.

Campus plans fall opening with COVID-19 precautions

Jun 18, 2020 4:15 pm

In announcing the decision to open the fall semester with as much in-person instruction, residential occupancy as possible, Chancellor Jones re-emphasized the campus commitment to prioritizing health and safety.

Professor Girish Chowdhary with the TerraSentia robot.

U of I researchers adapt robots for fight against COVID-19

Jun 17, 2020 10:00 am

Girish Chowdhary’s team accelerated their work on the TerraSentia robot to enable it to can perform tasks in agricultural fields or in hospitals, keeping people out of harm’s way and filling labor gaps.

Law professor Michelle D. Layser and urban and regional planning professor Andrew Greenlee. Photo collage by L. Brian Stauffer

Housing instability undermines public health response to COVID-19

Jun 11, 2020 9:30 am

More households are facing acute housing distress or homelessness, forcing people to 'double up' with friends or relatives. This decreases their levels of social distancing and heightens the risk of transmission and exposure to COVID-19.

locals claim the water in the canals of Venice, Italy (shown here), hasn’t been this clear in 60 years.

The COVID-19 pandemic — in the context of sustainability

Jun 1, 2020 4:00 pm

The pandemic is simultaneously a public health crisis and a real-time experiment in downsizing our consumer economy.

Graphic showing aspects of the pledge: Face coverings, clean hands, sanitation, social distancing

Champaign County businesses pledge to keep community safe, healthy

May 27, 2020 8:00 am

View the list of local businesses committed to safety, well-being of employees, customers. Thank you for signing the Champaign County Safe Pledge!

Parish Church in Eyam, Derbyshire, England. Wiki Commons.

Pandemics and fear: History helps us understand COVID-19

May 11, 2020 12:15 pm

Historians and anthropologists see parallels between past outbreaks and today's crisis

COVID-19 virus. Image by U.S. Department of State

Three NSF grants aim to shorten time to get COVID test results

May 7, 2020 11:45 am

One team has proposed the development of a point-of-care device that uses nasal fluid samples to detect the presence of COVID-19 within 10 minutes.

screen image from Zoom meeting shows eight Carle Illinois College of Medicine students

Students' COVI-Pod concept could reduce PPE need

Apr 27, 2020 12:15 pm

COVI-Pod is a negative pressure system isolation pod that creates a secure barrier between the patient and the hospital room, which could reduce the need for PPE by 60 percent.

U of I's COVID Personal Protective Equipment project

Apr 13, 2020 4:15 pm

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign teams designing and providing Personal Protective Equipment to healthcare facilities.

Is outdoor recreation safe during COVID-19?

Mar 25, 2020 10:45 am

And what about fresh produce? Is it safe? Illinois Extension has answers from experts on these and other coronavirus concerns on this site.

CSL alum and virus modeling expert Philip E. Paré

CSL alum, virus modeling expert explains science behind the spread of COVID-19

Mar 17, 2020 4:15 pm

The symptoms of this strain of the coronavirus allow it to spread quickly, even in people who aren't showing symptoms. Philip E. Paré explains why this pandemic is no ordinary flu.

graphic for this blog entry, 'Adapting to Online Learning'

Ready to finish your courses online? Here are some tips for online students

Mar 13, 2020 8:00 am

With the U of I suspending face-to-face courses as a COVID-19 precaution, here are tips and advise on how to succeed as an online learner.

Understanding COVID-19 with Dr. Jim Dobbins

Mar 12, 2020 2:30 pm

Understanding COVID-19: Epidemiology in a time of uncertainty lecture, recorded on 3/11/20. Dr. Dobbins is an epidemiologist who spent his career at the CDC and WHO.

historic round barns on the South Farms area of campus

COVID-19 updates and resources

Mar 15, 2020 9:00 am

COVID-19 updates for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

COVID-19 updates and resources

Mar 15, 2020 8:45 am

COVID-19 updates for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Dogwood trees flowering outside the undergraduate library. Photo by L.B. Stauffer

International spring break, domestic programs requiring air travel canceled

Mar 5, 2020 3:45 pm

In light of COVID-19 risks, U of I is canceling all university-sponsored international spring break programs and all university-sponsored domestic student spring break programs that require air travel.

U of I's COVID-19 Homepage

Mar 11, 2020 8:45 am

COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) continues to create uncertainty and concern, globally and in our community. This is the central starting point for information, updates about the impact of this virus.

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