4 Riverside County youth probationers test positive for coronavirus

Four Riverside County youth probationers returned from a Michigan facility tested positive for the coronavirus, the county probation department announced on Wednesday.

The department transferred a total of eight youth probationers from a Michigan facility to the Alan M. Crogan Youth Treatment and Education Center (AMC-YTEC) in Riverside.

The four youths were placed into quarantine at AMC-YTEC and will remain in isolation. The probation department will work with Riverside University Health System - Public Health and on-site medical staff on treatment for those infected.

There was no information released on the ages or current conditions of the infected youths.

According to the probation department, all youths are scheduled to appear in court this week.

A spokesperson for the probation department says a COVID-19 prevention plan consistent with Centers for Disease Control guidelines has been in place at juvenile facilities since March 13, 2020. RUHS-PH nurses also conduct daily health screenings at juvenile facilities. In addition, there are enhanced sanitation measures to help reduce the risk of spreading infectious diseases.

The Riverside County Probation Department operates three juvenile facilities throughout the county, including one in Indio. The three facilities currently house approximately 145 youths.

As of Wednesday morning, Riverside County has 5,248 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 2,911 recoveries and 225 deaths. Juveniles account for very few of the cases, there are 204 cases and 0 deaths among ages 5-17.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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

A total of 75,069 Riverside County residents have been tested so far. Riverside County Supervisor Manny Perez said about 2% of the county's population has been tested.

You can get tested even if you do not have symptoms. Testing was expanded to include all residents on April 17.

Riverside County has testing sites in Indio, Blythe, Perris, Riverside, and Lake Elsinore.

If you want to get tested at one of the other five Riverside County testing sites, you will need to call 800-945-6171 to set up an appointment. Officials said the turnaround time for test results is typically 3-4 days.

There is a testing site now open in Coachella, on 85365 Dillon Road. The Coachella site will be open Fridays and Saturdays. Call (833) 624-1097 to set-up a testing appointment.

The state also opened eight testing sites across Riverside County that could test 1,000 people every day.

The following locations will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. by appointment only:

• Mecca Boys and Girls Club
  91391 66th Ave
  Mecca, Ca
  (County officials confirmed this location will open on Friday, May 8)
• Moses Schaffer Community Center
  21565 Steele Peak
  Perris, CA 92570
• Mead Valley Senior Center
  21091 Rider St., Suite 102
  Perris, CA 92570
• Jurupa Valley Fleet Center 
  5293 Mission Boulevard
  Riverside, CA 92509
• Nellie Weaver Hall
  3737 Crestview
  Norco, CA 92860

The following locations will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

• Lozano Community Center
  12-800 West Arroyo
  Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
  (County officials confirmed this location will open on Friday, May 8)
• Noble Creek Community Center
  390 W. Oak Valley Parkway
  Beaumont, CA 92223
• Valle Vista Community Center
  43935 E. Acacia Ave.
  Hemet, CA 92544

Appointments at these facilities can be made online by going to https://lhi.care/covidtesting or calling 888-634-1123.