Indio passes order requiring face coverings when social distancing is not possible
The city of Indio became the latest Coachella Valley city to issue an order requiring a face covering when out in public.
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Indio's order requires a face covering when shopping a grocery stores, drug stores, or any other business that are allowed to operate under the state's stay-at-home order.
Earlier today, officials confirmed that Riverside County is now in accelerated stage 2, meaning malls & dine-in restaurants can operate once again with certain modifications.
FULL DETAILS: CA approves Riverside County to reopen malls, dine-in restaurants
Face coverings are also mandated in the city of Indio when in a government building or while riding public transportation.
Similarly, the city of Indio requires residents to wear a face covering when outdoors in a public setting if social distancing is not possible.
Social distancing means staying at least six-feet apart from people you don't currently live with.
The city does not require residents to wear face coverings when doing outdoor activities like biking, hiking, or running as long as they maintain social distancing.
There are a few exceptions to this order like children under the age or 2 and people who have breathing problems that have been recommended against wearing face coverings.
On May 8, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to remove the county health orders, meaning face coverings weren't required anymore just "strongly recommended."
Since then, Indio, Cathedral City, Coachella, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta have each passed their own orders requiring residents to wear face covering.
La Quinta only requires residents to wear a face covering when inside grocery stores or pharmacies.
Indian Wells and Palm Desert passed orders similar to La Quinta's.
In Palm Desert, businesses are strongly encouraged to require face coverings and social distancing on their premises and to post notices conspicuously so that everyone entering a business knows its face covering policy.
Desert Hot Springs's order are required for everyone when in the presence of others. The city only recommends face covering when exercising outdoors but you must remain within six feet of others.
It is only not required for those with a health condition whose medical doctor has advised against wearing a face covering and can provide documentation or for children under the age of two.
Cathedral City's order is very similar to Desert Hot Springs, including when it comes to the exceptions.
Coachella requires face covering in all public settings, unless you are in your car or exercising with six feet of distance. It also mandates businesses to post a sign letting customers and workers know that face masks must be worn at all times. Businesses have been asked to refuse service to anyone not wearing a covering.
More Details: Mayor of Coachella explains city's decision to continue requiring face coverings
Palm Springs issued several emergency orders, including mandatory face covering when out in public.
• Residents are to stay at home, unless they are engaging in essential activities, such as working at an essential business or going to the grocery store or drug store.
• Residents are generally encouraged to engage in outdoor recreational activities, such as going for walks or taking their dogs for walks.
• Residents must wear face coverings in public settings, unless they are able to maintain social distancing.
• While in public settings, residents are required to engage in social distancing with those who are not members of their household.
• Only "essential" businesses (as defined by the State) and "lower risk workplaces" (such as retail with curbside pickup, manufacturing and logistics) can remain open.
• Golf, tennis and pickleball have been allowed to re-open, subject to strict safety protocols.
• Private community swimming pools within HOAs and apartments will not be closed by the City, as long as appropriate social distancing, (which does not apply to members of the same household) and sanitation practices are maintained.
• A strong recommendation is made that all persons who are 65 years or older, have a chronic underlying health condition, or have a compromised immune system self-quarantine themselves at home.
• All stores designated as "essential" that provide in-person shopping will be required to implement worker and customer safety measures that were previously required only of grocery and drug stores
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 80,000 Riverside County residents have been tested so far, that's a little over 2% of the county's population.
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.
Click here to find the closest testing site to you
Riverside County operates 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.
A walk-up testing site opened on Monday at the Cathedral City library. The site will be open from Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 4 pm. Call for an appointment by calling (800) 945-6171.
There is a testing site 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.
