COVID-19 In Riverside County: Numbers, Reopenings, Prisons, News
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The number of new coronavirus cases rose by more than 300 Friday in Riverside County, and the death toll increased by two, health officials reported.
Across the county, 311 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing Friday's total to 12,778. Of those cases, 6,625 have recovered from the virus, according to figures released by Riverside University Health System.
The number of people who've died due to coronavirus complications now stands at 410 countywide.
Hospitalizations rose from 285 Thursday to 291 Friday. Seventy-six of those patients are in ICU — a jump of 1 since Thursday. Over the last three reporting days, 54 COVID-19 patients have been admitted to area hospitals.
COVID-19 at a glance this week:
New face mask order: On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom mandated face coverings for everyone in the state with few exceptions. Children under 2 are exempt, as are those with disabilities, and people who exercise in outdoor settings can go without face coverings as long as they adhere to the 6-foot social distancing guideline. Read the state's guidelines here. Rather than police enforcement, the public is instead being asked to take personal responsibility in an effort to protect vulnerable residents, such as the elderly and those with certain underlying health conditions. Many people who become infected with coronavirus may never show symptoms, or their symptoms are mild.
The week's big takeaway: The statewide face mask mandate follows an increase in COVID-19 cases in several counties, including Riverside County where new cases have been spiking since about June 9. The uptick coincides with more gatherings, most notably protests and houses of worship, along with business reopenings (the COVID-19 incubation period is 14 days, with a median time of four to five days from exposure to symptoms onset, if any). Rather than shut down businesses again, the public is being asked to do three things to prevent virus spread: Wear face masks, keep at least 6 feet away from people who don't live in your household, and wash your hands frequently.
How the week started and ended: Over the five-day week, county health officials reported 1,493 new coronavirus cases and 26 new deaths. The week marked the largest increase in new cases since figures have been tracked. The week began Monday with 11,285 cases and 384 deaths. The number of hospitalized coronavirus patients jumped by 63 over the week, starting with 228 on Monday. ICU patients increased over the week by six. The number of people tested for the virus increased by 18,785 over the week, with a starting point Monday of 156,748.
The five Riverside County cities with the largest number of reported COVID-19 cases (as of Friday):
Riverside with 1,895 confirmed cases and 115 deaths
Moreno Valley with 1,083 confirmed cases and 35 deaths
Indio with 929 confirmed cases and 21 deaths
Coachella with 819 confirmed cases and nine deaths
Jurupa Valley with 536 confirmed cases and 15 deaths
Businesses allowed to reopen this week: Nail services; facial and esthetician services; shaving, waxing and threading services; massage therapy services; and body art, tattoo and piercing services were all allowed to reopen Friday. Additionally, wedding ceremonies can start again, but wedding receptions are banned. Libraries may also reopen.
Testing: More than a dozen testing locations are open across the county, and testing is free (click here to find a location and make an appointment). Additionally, the county announced this week that it has formed a “mobile testing team” to serve targeted populations or communities. Read more about the mobile team.
COVID-19 prison update: Amid coronavirus outbreaks at several state prisons, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced Tuesday that non-violent inmates with 180 days or less to serve on their sentences are eligible for supervised release starting July 1. The "community supervision program" is being implemented "in order to amplify actions to protect staff and inmates at the state's prisons from the spread of COVID-19," the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced. Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe (Riverside County) has the largest COVID-19 outbreak among California state prisons, with 1,008 total confirmed cases (780 of them active) and one death. Read more about the scheduled release that begins July 1.
This article originally appeared on the Murrieta Patch
