Coachella Valley coronavirus update | News and info for Tuesday Evening, 3/17

Cactus Hugs has been tracking local stories about the coronavirus.  Some links might be behind that other website’s paywall…nothing we can do about that, sorry.  For a rundown of all of our updates, click here.

  • The city of Palm Springs has issued a shelter in place for residents beginning Wednesday morning:

  • The City of Palm Desert has issued a proclamation of local emergency and has closed City Hall and other non-essential municipal facilities:

  • Riverside County has ordered schools closed and events with 10 or more people, including church, cancelled until at least April.
  • A third person has died from coronavirus and western Riverside County has its first two cases of coronavirus, officials announced on Tuesday.
  • A local doctor offered a dire warning in his prediction for coronavirus and the Coachella Valley:

  • Congressman Raul Ruiz will host a “Telephone Town Hall” on Thursday:

  • Morongo Casino and Agua Caliente Casinos are temporarily closing.  Agua Caliente’s closing also extends to The Indian Canyons Golf Resort and Tahquitz Canyon and the Indian Canyons.
  • The Living Desert is temporarily closing:

  • People are still golfing locally.
  • Here’s a guide to take-out, curbside, and delivery specials being offered by local restaurants.
  • CNN has a guide to the best foods to buy (and how to store them) during the pandemic.
  • Vyaire Medical Inc., which is based in Illinois, said the company is adding a second shift at its Palm Springs factory and hiring more workers in order to produce more ventilators.
  • Time Magazine reports on the economic impact of the postponement of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.
  • Billboard reported on the impact of lack of fests to the city of Indio
  • A Desert Sun reader is furious with the toilet paper hoarding.

Important information:

      • The New York Times has an interactive map where you can track every coronavirus case in the United States.
      • The Washington Post is out with a guide to what you should know about the coronavirus.
      • Schools are closed, but free student meals are available.  Here is the information on meal programs during this time for each Coachella Valley school district.
      • The United Way of the Desert has assembled a nice list of information and resources available during the coronavirus here.
      • Here’s a guide to take-out, curbside, and delivery specials being offered by local restaurants.

These are scary and anxious times.  Be safe and kind to each other out there and, please, remember to wash your hands.

Anything we missed? Let us know about it.