Coronavirus Cases By City, Age Range, Gender: RivCo Releases Data
This article originally appeared on the Murrieta Patch
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County health officials are now sharing more details with the public about confirmed coronavirus cases.
On Friday, officials unveiled a new map on the Riverside University Health System - Public Health website that shows city, gender and age breakdowns of confirmed COVID-19 cases countywide. It is the first time since the pandemic hit the region that county officials have shared the data.
According to the map, as of Friday afternoon there are 185 confirmed COVID-19 cases countywide and eight deaths. One additional death announced Friday — a 25-year-old San Diego man who died in Coachella Valley due to the disease — is not accounted for in the death toll. Only Riverside County residents are being accounted for in the figures, officials have said.
Dozens of Riverside County cities have people who've tested positive for the disease, the map shows. As of Friday afternoon, cities with higher case counts include Riverside, 21; Moreno Valley, 20; Temecula, 16; Palm Springs, 15; Corona, 12; and Murrieta, 11.
A greater percentage of males have tested positive with 115 confirmed cased compared to 69 females, according to the map.
The age groups with the highest infection rates are 40-64, with 77 confirmed cases, and 18- to 39-year-olds, with 56 cases.
The updated COVID-19 figures come the same day that Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser issued an order that severely restricts hotels, motels and other short-term rentals from leasing or renting their facilities. READ MORE: Order Strictly Limits Lodging In Riverside County: Coronavirus
On Thursday, Riverside University Health System officials released new estimates indicating cases in Riverside County will grow if the public does not heed social distancing orders that include no gatherings.
According to county health officials coronavirus cases countywide are on track to double every four to five days — and deaths stemming from viral complications could rise 125 times the current figure in the next month if the public.
"We're trying to change the curve and slow down the rate of infection," RUHS Dr. Geoffrey Leung said during a news briefing at the county's Emergency Operations Center in downtown Riverside on Thursday. "But based on forecasting and modeling ... there could be a doubling of the rate of COVID-19 infection every four to five days ... If we stay on the same doubling rate, (by early May) we could have over 1,000 deaths and 50,000 new cases."
Leung said he based his estimates on local approximations and nationwide trends.
"By April 12, all hospital beds (in the county) will be used up, and if we stay on the same doubling rate, we'll be out of ventilators in the April 22-May 5 period," Leung said.
The one ray of hope that he referenced was a dramatic slowdown in the rate of infection in New Rochelle, New York, where a major cluster of COVID-19 infections was documented two weeks ago, but after closely monitored isolation measures were implemented, the rate dropped precipitously.
"They lengthened the doubling time by two weeks," Leung said. "If all of you do everything you can, together we can get through this."
Like the rest of the nation, the local mortality rate is slightly over 1 percent. More than 3,000 residents have been tested for the virus, and screening measures are being broadened, according to officials.
County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser declined to characterize the number of COVID-19 patients who have not succumbed to complications and are no longer hospitalized as "recovered," saying that while a person's symptoms may subside, viral transmission can continue "for a long period of time."
"We're trying to make sure the earliest cases meet criteria" for classification as recovered, he said.
Kaiser acknowledged that the 10-person cap he placed on gatherings two weeks ago, effectively making many businesses and events impossible to conduct, and Gov. Gavin Newsom's directive last week for Californians not involved in "essential" operations to stay at home as much as possible, were wreaking havoc on the regional economy, but austerity measures were needed for viral containment.
"I care about where someone's next paycheck will be coming from. I want to make sure people have a job to come back to," he said. "But if we pull this back too quickly, we could be worse off in that situation. We don't want to open too early, but also not too late."
Jobless claims filed in the last week exceeded 3 million nationally, a record high, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
"We need a sense of calm and responsibility," said Supervisor Karen Spiegel. "We all need to help in this fight. Every one of us needs to heed actions that will save lives."
She repeated the importance of social distancing and other precautions.
Those living within 50 miles of Riverside can now screen symptoms and risk factors online and if eligible, participate in testing at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore.
Members of the California National Guard on Friday continued setting up a temporary hospital at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio in anticipation of an expected surge of coronavirus cases.
The 125-bed "federal medical station" will be built within existing buildings and be equipped with all necessary equipment. The field hospital will help ease the burden on the local hospital system, said county spokeswoman Brooke Federico.
It is expected to take 10 days to build the facility, which will likely stay open for at least eight weeks, officials said.
Another temporary hospital will soon be set up in western Riverside County, Federico said. That site will have another 125 beds, but specific information, including the location, was not released.
RELATED:
Deputy At Riverside County Jail Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Riverside County. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.
—City News Service contributed to this report.
