Cactus Hugs has been tracking local stories about the coronavirus. For a rundown of all of our updates, click here. Stay safe, stay at a good social distance, and thank you for your continued support of Cactus Hugs.
As of 1 pm Wednesday, Riverside County officials have confirmed 2,105 people have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 54 confirmed deaths in the county. County health officials also reported that 235 of the confirmed cases are currently hospitalized with 64 of them in the ICU. There have been 416 official recovered cases.
Riverside County posted additional information on Wednesday about county residents who have died from coronavirus. Of the 50 who have died, 41 of the 50 are men (over 80%). A majority who died – 28 – were between 65 and 84 years old. Nine deaths were people over 85 and eight people between 45 and 64 have died due to coronavirus complications:
Data continues to change each day, but here is a look at the epidemiology of COVID-19 deaths in Riverside County. #rivconow #ruhealth Visit https://t.co/B0PcBKTHe0 for updated information as we have it. pic.twitter.com/8TsuR5VNS6
— Dr. Cameron Kaiser (@RivCoDoc) April 15, 2020
As of 8 am Thursday, San Bernardino County has confirmed 996 cases of COVID-19. There have been 39 deaths in San Bernardino County.
As of 10 pm Wednesday, there have been 27,097 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California. There have been 889 confirmed deaths in the state.
According to the CDC, these are the nationwide numbers as of 4 pm Wednesday:
- Total cases: 605,390
- Total deaths: 24,582
An employee at the La Quinta Post Office has tested positive for coronavirus.
The U.S. Postal Service believes the risk is low for other employees at the facility and the office remains open at this time.
The LA Times analyzed data from nursing homes in the county. They found that “89% of facilities with the coronavirus had previous infection control violations that ranged from mishandling patients with highly contagious bacterial infections to not properly cleaning ventilators and other equipment.”
Nurses at a Santa Monica hospital caring for coronavirus patients were told by their management that N95 respirator masks were not necessary and the facility refused to provide them. Six nurses have tested positive for coronavirus at the hospital. A group of nurses last week began refusing to enter rooms of infected patients without the masks. “Five doctors informed us that in their professional opinion, we should not enter the room of a suspected or confirmed coronavirus patient without an N95,” one of the nurses told Santa Monica Daily Press. The hospital has since suspended ten of them with pay, pending an investigation.
Local health departments have reported 2,789 confirmed positive cases in health care workers in the state of California. That’s over 10% of the industry.
Elon Musk said in March he was sending 1,000 ventilators to California hospitals. Not one has arrived.
Last week, an additional 5.2 million people nationwide filed for unemployment. The United States has now seen 22 million people apply for unemployment in the last four weeks.
A woman trying to apply for unemployment told CNN she has called 300 times and can’t get through.
Several million people who filed their taxes via H&R Block, TurboTax and other popular services were unable to get their stimulus check payments this week due to glitches. Some parents say they didn’t get their $500 per child. Also, the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program is already out of money.
The Indio City Council is having a tough time deciding a timeline for when renters must pay past-due rent stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. The council did pass an ordinance Wednesday establishing the authority to issue citations for violations of health orders established by the city or county related to short-term rentals.
Riverside County courthouses will remain closed until at least May 1.
The San Diego County Fair is not happening this year.
Another story about the strong possibility that Coachella and Stagecoach might not be happening this fall was posted.
To try to help lift spirits, the Palm Desert High School Senior Class of 2020 committee is distributing yard signs to the school’s 447 seniors:
SENIOR AZTECS… Look for #PDHS Admin to deliver signs in the areas around COD and El Paseo tomorrow. We hope to get another 75 signs out tomorrow. @pdhsofficial @PDHS2020 @PDAztecArmy @PdhsFootball @PDHScounseling #PDALLIN pic.twitter.com/0lusQT5M60
— Chuck Mazet (@PD_Aztec_Mazet) April 16, 2020
Starbucks is planning to reopen many of its cafes. Some will continue as drive-thru only, while others may reopen for to-go orders. The company says it will “monitor and adapt” to changing conditions during the pandemic
Thinking about getting some takeout (or wine)? Here are some local options:
Full Menu Available for Takeout! menu – https://www.zamgrill.com/zam-menu/9am-5pm Tue-Fri10am-5pm Sat (BBQ DAY)760-832-610468-703 Perez Rd, Cathedral City 92234http://www.zamgrill.com/
Posted by Zobo & Meester's on Wednesday, April 15, 2020
That’s all for this morning. Stay safe. Stay smart. Stay home. Thank you for your continued support of Cactus Hugs.
Important information:
Congressman Raul Ruiz has posted a list of local resources and information.
The Washington Post offers plenty of ways that you can help during the coronavirus pandemic.
If you see someone price gouging, there is now a number for that.
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.
Here is a memo by the Department of Homeland security identifying critical infrastructure workers.
The United Way of the Desert has assembled a nice list of information and resources available during the coronavirus here.
— Eisenhower Health (@EisenhowerHeal) March 9, 2020
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.
