Riverside County's COVID-19 Battle, Imperial County To Shut Down

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — While Riverside County continues on a state watchlist due to its coronavirus uptick that spiked again Friday, nearby Imperial County has been advised by Gov. Gavin Newsom to shut down because of its COVID-19 crisis.

Newsom made the Imperial County announcement during a Friday news briefing, and said he would intervene if the county does not come to a consensus on how to step back and implement a stay-at-home order.

Nearly a quarter of those tested for COVID-19 in Imperial County over the last two weeks have turned up positive, the governor said.

Just two hospitals serve Imperial County's approximately 181,000 people. Federal officials have shipped 80 hospital beds to the region, but the county "simply can't absorb" the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations its seeing, Newsom said, noting that its close proximity to Mexico's Baja California is complicating matters. Recent reporting indicates Mexicali, which sits just south of the U.S.-Mexico border, is overburdened with COVID-19 patients.

About 17 patients per day are being shipped out of Imperial to hospitals in surrounding counties, according to Newsom. In total, more than 500 patients from Imperial County have been transported out, he said. As of Friday, the county reports all of its ICU beds are being used.

Riverside County has absorbed dozens of Imperial County patients, but only nine are currently hospitalized locally, according to Jose Arballo Jr., spokesperson for Riverside University Health System-Public Health.

As Imperial County grapples with its situation, Riverside County is contending with a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. On Friday, 501 new cases were reported countywide, bringing the total to 15,643. Out of that total number, 7,383 people have recovered from the virus, according to county numbers.

With 209,556 COVID-19 tests conducted, Riverside County's positivity rate has recently been hovering above 10%, according to Arballo. The most recent RUHS data showed the rate at 10.6% on June 19. The state's 14-day positivity rate increased to 5.7%, which the governor called "disturbing."

Hospitalizations increased in Riverside County by seven on Friday to 318 — 105 of them in ICU, which is an uptick of 10 patients since Thursday.

Three more county residents have died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the Riverside County death toll to 438.

On Friday, it was announced that several employees who work and the County Administrative Center in downtown Riverside have tested positive for COVID-19, prompting a partial closure of the building and widespread testing. Read more: Riverside County Staffers Test Positive For Coronavirus

Along with Riverside and Imperial counties, 13 others are on the state's watchlist due to concerns about community spread of the virus. San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa are also listed.

Los Angeles County, which leads the state in COVID-19 cases and deaths, is experiencing dramatic daily upticks. On Thursday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned that the vast majority of bars and restaurants in the county are failing to comply with pandemic safety mandates. At the same time, many LA county residents aren't taking basic precautions to protect themselves from coronavirus. Combined with the increase in new cases and hospitalizations, the trend threatens to stall or reverse efforts to reopen the county's economy, the agency warned.

As the weekend arrives, the governor reminded all California residents that data points show more community spread is occurring on Saturdays and Sundays due to increased gatherings and decreased adherence to safety mandates.

Face masks are now required statewide with few exceptions, and social distancing of a least 6 feet is also mandated.

People in California must wear face coverings when they are in the high-risk situations listed below, according to the state:
• Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space;
• Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank;2
• Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
• Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when:
• Interacting in-person with any member of the public;
• Working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time;

• Working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others;
• Working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities;
• In any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance.
• Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, face coverings are strongly recommended.
• While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.

The following individuals are exempt from wearing a face covering:
• Persons age two years or under. These very young children must not wear a face covering because of the risk of suffocation.
• Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering. This includes persons with a medical condition for whom wearing a face covering could obstruct breathing or who are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance.
• Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
• Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
• Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service.
• Persons who are seated at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, while they are eating or drinking, provided that they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet away from persons who are not members of the same household or residence.
• Persons who are engaged in outdoor work or recreation such as swimming, walking, hiking, bicycling, or running, when alone or with household members, and when they are able to maintain a distance of at least six feet from others.
• Persons who are incarcerated. Prisons and jails, as part of their mitigation plans, will have specific guidance on the wearing of face coverings or masks for both inmates and staff.

Note: Persons exempted from wearing a face covering due to a medical condition who are employed in a job involving regular contact with others should wear a non-restrictive alternative, such as a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge, as long as their condition permits it.

Information about free COVID-19 testing can be found here.

This article originally appeared on the Palm Desert Patch