Riverside County Public Health Officer to address coronavirus at Palm Springs City Council meeting

Palm Springs City Council opening the door for discussion on the severity of coronavirus in our valley as they brought in Riverside County Public Health Officer, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, who talked about the complications with contact tracing.

“Contact tracing unfortunately is being impacted both because of community prevalence causing more it difficult to detect spread and the younger age less willing engage to interviewers," said Dr. Kaiser.

Dr. Kaiser said it's difficult to calculate total hospitalization data due to testing delays making it hard to draw any conclusions on death trends.

 “Where we have the best ability to infer about where they are getting it from is on employment," said Dr. Kaiser. "About 4 percent are on health care, 3.2 percent are on the restaurant industry including front wait staff, kitchen prep, 1.9 percent labor or unskilled, 1.9 are managerial positions.” 

Dr. Kaiser warns us that private gatherings are still the leading factor to contracting the virus. 

The virtual meeting sparking up concerns stressing facial coverings.

“Enforce face coverings at businesses and public areas like Palm Canyon Drive so we can remain open and not through another lockdown," said during public comment."

City leaders not taking the discussion lightly as they weigh the options as there’s been a spike in COVID-19 cases.

“Whether having large number of tourists in the city is a major factor in the spread of covid here?," said Mayor Geoff Kors.

“Given what we got, I don't think we have the data to suggest further closure of tourism sectors in particular is warranted," said Dr. Kaiser.

County officials said there are more than six hundred fifty confirmed cases in Palm Springs and 24 deaths.

“stick to those basic principals of not mixing households, maintaining good social distancing, having a strong facial coverings policy when entering the building and still provide residents in need," said Dr. Cameron Kaiser.

"He will provide the most recent data, medical and scientific information, and help us think through whether modifications to existing orders are needed," writes Palm Springs Mayor Geoff Kors.