Riverside County Poised To Lift 4 Public Health Orders
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is poised to consider whether to rescind four county public health orders currently in place amid coronavirus.
The county orders that mandate face coverings and physical distance of six feet between individuals; place limitations on short‑term rentals; put restrictions on reopened golf courses; and close schools are all scheduled to expire June 19. Riverside County Board Chair V. Manuel Perez and Vice Chair Karen Spiegel are bringing forth a proposal Tuesday to rescind them all ahead of time.
The county orders were put in place by Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser, who has maintained the restrictions are necessary to protect public health and prevent a surge of COVID-19 patients who could overwhelm local hospital systems.
The proposal by Perez and Spiegel will be voted on at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. If approved, Riverside County will not have any countywide orders more stringent than Gov. Gavin Newsom's statewide "stay-at-home" order, which will remain in place.
According to a news release issued Thursday by Perez' office, the proposal is "an effort to transition to economic and social recovery and streamline layers of public health requirements on coronavirus."
“I want to thank Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser who has led the charge with actions that have no doubt made a measurable impact in saving lives in our county,” Perez said. “His early and proactive leadership got us very far ahead as a county. That, combined with data and strong economic arguments, is why I have the confidence that it is appropriate to lift these measures while we continue to align ourselves with the state’s stay-at-home order and roadmap for reopening.”
Perez continued, “Our data and metrics show that we have conducted over 50,000 tests at five locations, which is two percent of our county’s population. We prepared for the expected hospital surge with two Federal Medical Stations that we have not had to use. Our hospital bed and ICU bed use have remained relatively consistent. These data explain why our original modeling has changed.”
Spiegel said, “We’ve successfully bent the curve of the disease. Sadly, the rise of unemployment sharply continues. These actions will ensure that we are ready to reopen business as soon as the governor lifts the statewide restrictions.”
County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser on Wednesday extended the county's emergency health order mandating social distancing practices and requiring face coverings for residents when outside their homes. Read more: Face Coverings Mandated Through June 19 In Riverside County
"For the immediate future, this is the new normal in Riverside County," Kaiser said.
Kaiser's previous health orders were due to expire Thursday, but he signed an amended directive with a few modifications, while keeping in place local mandates that are not required by the state, including the use of face coverings.
Kaiser's revised directive is also keeping the countywide shutdown mandate in place for all public and private schools, including colleges and universities, until June 19.
Along with Kaiser, the California Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend the use of face coverings, social distancing and frequent hand washing to reduce the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.
The proposal from the two supervisors reads:
Direct the Director of Emergency Services and Public Health Officer to Rescind the Following Public Health Orders:
a) April 1, 2020, Amended Order of the Health Officer Closing All Schools, Community Colleges, Colleges, and Universities from March 16, 2020 through June 19, 2020; and,
b) April 2, 2020, Amended Order of the Health Officer Related to Short Term Lodging Facilities through June 19, 2020; and,
c) April 29, 2020, Amended Order of the Health Officer for the County of Riverside and the Director of Emergency Services Placing Restrictions on Golf Course Use; and,
d) April 29, 2020, Amended Order of the Health Officer for the County of Riverside and the Director of Emergency Services requiring the use of face coverings and practice of social distancing.
Read the full county public health orders here.
See the full policy proposal on Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting agenda here (see item #40 under the Policy Calendar).
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This article originally appeared on the Temecula Patch
