U.K. COVID-19 variant detected in Riverside County

Riverside County health officials confirmed the first local case of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 first discovered in the United Kingdom.

The case was reported to Riverside County health officials over the weekend, according to county Executive Office spokeswoman Brooke Federico. She did not specify the region in which the case originated, but did tell News Channel 3 that it was in the western part of Riverside County.

Federico added that there is only one confirmed case of the variant right now.

"It was inevitable we would see this strain in Riverside County, and in our large population we will probably see others," county Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said. "But it doesn't change the need for people to take precautions with facial coverings, social distancing and good hygiene. It works for other things and it works for this, too.''

The UK variant has also been detected in San Diego, Orange counties.

Health officials have conceded that the variant is likely more widespread in the area but just hasn't been widely reported due to the time-consuming genomics process needed to identify it.

The first two cases of a South African variant of COVID-19 were confirmed in California on Wednesday -- but not in the Southland -- with Gov. Gavin Newsom saying one case each was detected in the Bay Area counties of Alameda and Santa Clara.

Both new variants are considered more contagious, but not necessarily more deadly than the original strain of COVID-19. Health officials have expressed concerns that the speed at which they can spread could more easily reach people more susceptible to severe illness if they are infected.

The aggregate number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic
began in Riverside County in early March now stands at 284,168, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The number of virus-related deaths is 3,454, according to RUHS data. The fatalities are trailing indicators because of delays processing death certificates and cover three- to four-week periods.

Coronavirus-positive hospitalizations continue to fall, with 726 patients now under care for virus-related complications countywide, or 29 fewer than Tuesday. That figure includes 193 intensive care unit patients, the same as Tuesday.

Meanwhile, health officials announced Tuesday that supplies of
coronavirus vaccines will be increasing in Riverside County thanks to changes to the state's dispensation program.

Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that Blue Shield had reached an agreement with the California Department of Public Health to coordinate distribution efforts throughout the state, including Riverside County. A schedule for the switch wasn't specified.

Saruwatari and RUHS spokesman Dr. Geoffrey Leung both said CDPH decisions regarding shipments of Pfizer and Moderna SARS-Cov-2 doses have created difficulties. The size of shipments has been based on health care worker population, as opposed to actual eligible population, Saruwatari said.

"Our supplies have been limited and unpredictable," Leung told the board. "We are operating on a week-to-week basis. Sometimes we get more Pfizer, sometimes more Moderna."

According to Leung, just over 200,000 residents have received the first round of doses. But there are ongoing concerns about completing the two- dose immunization process, and that has created anxiety among recipients, many of whom don't have a set timeline for when they can obtain their second dose, which is supposed to be within three to six weeks of the first one.

"We are trying our best to continue making improvements,'' he said. "The Palm Springs Convention Center will be available as a vaccination clinic at the end of this week, and Leung said there are plans for mobile vaccination clinics to reach remote locations."

Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton said ICU availability countywide remains at 0%, along with the 11-county Southern California region.

The county is making vaccination of seniors a priority, but others who qualify under the CDPH Phase 1 guidelines include hospital workers, first responders, teachers and some agricultural workers.

The portal to make an appointment for vaccination can be accessed via www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine. Anyone who needs assistance may also call the county's 211 help line.

The overall countywide COVID-19 testing positivity rate is 14.4%, down from 16.6% last week, based on state-adjusted figures.

The county remains in the most restrictive purple tier of the governor's Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework, impacting bars, theaters, museums, indoor recreational facilities and wineries -- all of which are supposed to remain closed. However wineries, like restaurants, can provide outdoor dining, takeout and delivery. Most retail outlets are limited to 25% capacity, while hair salons, nail salons and barbershops can operate with safeguards in place.

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