Riverside County reports over 800 new cases, its highest day-to-day increase
Riverside County reported a total of 856 new cases on Wednesday, the highest day-to-day increase in confirmed cases since the pandemic started.
Today's increase brought the total number of cases up to 21,957.
Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the board of supervisors on Tuesday that the county's positivity rate is at around 15.9%, nearly double the state's threshold of 8%.
The latest projections by health officials have the number of cases reaching 29,809 by July 20.
Riverside County continued to report more deaths as well. Today, there 9 deaths reported across the county, this includes two deaths in Indio and one reported in each of the following communities; Coachella, Mecca, Desert Edge, & Desert Palms.
There have been 515 coronavirus deaths in Riverside County.
Today, we did surpass the 9,000 recoveries mark. There were 176 new recoveries in Riverside County. The total is now at 9,072.
For the first time in a few days, the number of patients in both the Hospital and ICU decreased. 10 fewer patients are hospitalized and there are 8 less patients in the ICU. There are currently 506 patients in the hospital, this includes 122 patients admitted to the ICU.
The number of ICU patients remained at 130 today. A total of 362 ICU beds are in use as of July 7, according to Riverside University Public Health System.
The county reports that there are 10 patients currently hospitalized that are inmates and 5 patients from Imperial County.
According to California data, which also takes into account the number of suspected positive coronavirus patients, there are a total of 651 patients currently hospitalized for coronavirus-related reasons. That's up 217 patients, or 50%, compared to two weeks ago.
There are 136 patients in the ICU for coronavirus-related reasons, an increase of 21 patients, or 18.3%, compared to two weeks ago.
According to California data, which also takes into account the number of suspected positive coronavirus patients, there are a total of 659 patients currently hospitalized for coronavirus-related reasons. That's up 235 patients, or 55.6%, compared to two weeks ago.
There are 146 patients in the ICU for coronavirus-related reasons, an increase of 37 patients, or 33.9%, compared to two weeks ago.
COACHELLA VALLEY CITIES
Today, the Coachella Valley reported 237 new cases, bringing the total to 6,330 cases. We also reported 6 deaths for the 2nd day in a row in the valley, we now have a total of 145 deaths
The city of Indio continues to have the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths by an increasingly large margin. Today, Indio reported 56 cases and 2 deaths. Indio now has 1,678 cases and 42 deaths.
Cases in Coachella Valley cities & communities (As of 7/7/2020)
· Bermuda Dunes
Confirmed Cases: 62
Deaths: 1
· Cabazon
Confirmed Cases: 22
Deaths: 1
· Cathedral City
Confirmed Cases: 796
Deaths: 6
· Coachella
Confirmed Cases: 1,304
Deaths: 12
· Desert Edge
Confirmed Cases: 20
Deaths: 2
· Desert Hot Springs
Confirmed Cases: 369
Deaths: 3
· Desert Palms
Confirmed Cases: 25
Deaths: 2
· Garnet
Confirmed Cases: 76
Deaths: 0
· Indian Wells
Confirmed Cases: 22
Deaths: 0
· Indio
Confirmed Cases: 1,678
Deaths: 42
· La Quinta
Confirmed Cases: 366
Deaths: 11
· Mecca
Confirmed Cases: 200
Deaths: 6
· North Shore
Confirmed Cases: 73
Deaths: 1
· Oasis
Confirmed Cases: 137
Deaths: 0
· Palm Desert
Confirmed Cases: 516
Deaths: 30
· Palm Springs
Confirmed Cases: 404
Deaths: 16
· Rancho Mirage
Confirmed Cases: 115
Deaths: 12
· Sky Valley
Confirmed Cases: 16
Deaths: 0
· Thermal
Confirmed Cases: 84
Deaths: 0
· Thousand Palms
Confirmed Cases: 75
Deaths: 0
· County Jails
There are 258- cases in the County's jails, with 2 deaths, and 207 recoveries.· State Jails
There are 1,069 cases in the state's jails
Click here for cases by zip code
Doctor at Eisenhower Health describes coronavirus ‘hell show’
"Hell show," that's how one doctor at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage describes what's happening there right now with coronavirus.
We discussed this doctor's post with Dr. Alan Williamson, Chief Medical Officer at Eisenhower Health.
Full Interview: Eisenhower Health responds to doctor's claims of coronavirus ‘hell show’ at hospital
Mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 on local hospital staff
For many of our local healthcare heroes, the unprecedented daily fight against coronavirus has been physically and emotionally grueling.
“The stress is pretty real,” said Dr. Andrew Kassinove, Chief of Staff at J.F.K. Memorial Hospital. “I think that we as E.R. doctors and nurses do deal with death and dying on a regular basis, but COVID-19 has stressed that to the limit,” he said.
Full Story: Local hospital workers discuss mental and emotional impact of COVID-19 on staff
Congressman Ruiz says County hasn't done enough to prevent cases; criticizes the Sheriff's enforcement of orders.
Congressman Ruiz joined Peter Daut during our special 6:30 p.m. newscast on CBS and Fox, once again saying that the county is not doing enough to prevent cases and called out Sheriff Chad Bianco for his comments on enforcing public health orders.
"When you have a sheriff who flat out thinks that wearing masks or stay at home policy is a socialist liberal agenda, it creates mixed messages, and if he is publically stating how he is not going to enforce, it puts in people's minds that it's not important enough to wear a mask. Or that this is a political issue. It's not. It's a public health issue," Ruiz said.
Bianco replied to the Congressman's comments later that day, writing in part:
"Apparently the congressman is wanting me to jail mask violators, while simultaneously supporting the releases of violent offenders released from our jail? That is the mixed message."
Follow-up: Congressman Ruiz criticizes Sheriff Bianco over comments on masks, order enforcement
It was the second time in a week Congressman Ruiz has joined News Channel 3 and said that the county is not doing enough to prevent cases.
Unfortunately, the county has failed in containing this surge. Hospitals are starting to do surge intervention, the county needs to do surge intervention as well," Ruiz told News Channel 3's Karen Devine.
Full Interview: Rep Ruiz: Riverside County needs to do more to prevent coronavirus cases
California Closes Indoor Spaces for Restaurants, other sectors
"This doesn't mean restaurants shut down. It means we're trying to take activities, as many activities as we can, these mixed activities, concentrated activities, and move them outdoors," Newsoms said.
Full Details: Gov Newsom orders restaurants, other sectors to close indoor operations
Riverside County closes bars
Riverside County issued an order Monday afternoon closing bars that don't serve food starting at 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
"Since mid-June, there has been a growing health crisis with rising coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and ICU bed usage throughout our nation, the State of California and here in Riverside County," said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. "A local Riverside County order on bar closures has unfortunately become necessary to slow the spread of this virus. I want to remind everyone that facial coverings are a requirement, and encourage continuously keeping physical distance and washing our hands."
Full Details: Riverside County bars ordered to close
Symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
You can call the Centers for Disease Control with any questions at 211 and 800–CDC –INFO (800 – 232 – 4636).
If you want to be seen at Eisenhower Health, call their 24-hour coronavirus hotline first at 760-837-8988 or 760-TEST988. Avoid the spread of this illness.
These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus, according to the CDC.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
How to get tested
Remember, you can get tested even if you do not have symptoms. Testing was expanded to include all residents on April 17.
There are testing site all over the valley now.
