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.
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As of 4 pm Thursday, Riverside County officials have confirmed:
- 5,440 people have officially tested positive for COVID-19.
- 97 people have been reported to have tested positive in the last 24 hours
- 235 people are confirmed to have died in the county from the coronavirus.
- 7 people have been reported dead in the last 24 hours.
- There are currently 188 confirmed cases hospitalized.
- 66 of those people in the ICU.
- There have been 3,254 official recovered cases in the county.
- The county has conducted 78,939 tests.
- There have been 2,896 reported tests in the last 24 hours.
As of 4 pm Thursday, San Bernardino County has confirmed 3,198 cases of COVID-19. There have been 139 deaths in San Bernardino County.
As of 10 pm Thursday, there have been 74,958 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California. There have been 3,052 confirmed deaths in the state.
Reported US coronavirus deaths:
Feb. 14: 0 deaths
Mar. 14: 58 deaths
Apr. 14: 26,033 deaths
May 14: 85,886 deaths— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) May 15, 2020
The numbers increase everyday. They are more than just numbers. They are people we have lost:
A Michigan couple has died from coronavirus, leaving their three children as orphans.
Nameer and Nada Ayram, Iraqi immigrants who moved to Detroit eight years ago, were both admitted to hospitals in late March with COVID-19 and died within weeks.https://t.co/9kFH8KmR2M
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) May 15, 2020
After surviving 2 bouts of cancer, Francisco Mendez died of complications of the coronavirus. He was trained as a prizefighter in Mexico, but found his true calling outside the ring as an entrepreneur. https://t.co/r7iSsr2waE
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 15, 2020
People lined the streets of Tweedbank to pay their respects to "much loved" nurse Angie Cunningham who died of coronavirus. ?https://t.co/mfJwdiy9bG pic.twitter.com/LjG8rszw5o
— ITV News Border (@ITVborder) May 15, 2020
The Palm Springs City Council discussed potential budget cuts as the city could face a potential $76 million budget deficit through June 2021 due to the coronavirus. Possibilities the city discussed included reducing administrative budgets, reducing landscape maintenance, deferring tree trimming, and cancelling the skate park operations contract. There were also scenarios involving varying degrees of freezes and layoffs, a reduction in non-sworn police and fire department staff, and even the possible reduction in police officers. Another option to reduce costs is to cancel or suspend major capital projects such as the downtown park. “The reality is that we’re going to have to figure something out to get through this, but I think there’s full confidence that we will get through this and come out the other end strong again,” Mayor Geoff Kors said during the meeting.
The Palm Desert City Council voted 3-2 on an executive order requiring that facial coverings be worn in grocery and drug stores. Mayor Gina Nestande and Councilmember Susan Marie Weber opposed any requirement to wear masks. “I think the jury’s still out on how beneficial face coverings are,” the mayor said. She added, “I never thought I would agree with one thing Gov. (Gavin) Newsom is telling us to do, but he is strongly suggesting the wearing of face masks but is not making it mandatory because the science just isn’t there.”
A Los Angeles woman who went viral for recording herself refusing to wear a face mask at a Trader Joe’s last week, revealed yesterday that she’s now experiencing a “sore throat and lymph nodes.” Experts have stated wearing facial coverings is vital during the coronavirus pandemic and can help prevent the spread of the disease.
The LA Times has put together a roundup of the different mask rules in cities and counties around So Cal.
California expects it unemployment rate to peak at 25 percent, which would at levels not seen since the Great Depression. On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom called the numbers “jaw dropping” and “unprecedented.”
A Washington Post-Ipsos poll of more than 8,000 Americans in late April and early May found that nearly 6 in 10 Americans who are working outside their homes are concerned that they could be exposed to the virus at work and infect other members of their household. Nearly 1 in 3 Americans — and over half of those with jobs — have continued to leave the house for work at least once a week as the virus spread.
A second poll found nearly 3 in 4 Americans believe there are not enough tests available in the country right now:
Nearly three in four Americans believe there are not enough coronavirus tests available in the United States, compared to only 26% who said there is adequate testing available right now, new @ABC News/Ipsos poll finds. https://t.co/GysGkiCWPf pic.twitter.com/ZJsYTKaxNr
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) May 15, 2020
As businesses reopen around the country, is it safe for people to go out to eat, go to a gym, or get your hair cut? The Washington Times asked public health experts where they generally would and wouldn’t go.
In a stunt to encourage social distancing, a German restaurant gave its diners hats with pool noodles upon its reopening:
Cafe & Konditorei Rothe in Schwerin, Germany reopened last week as they begin to lift certain coronavirus restrictions, that it had its diners wear hats with colorful pool noodles pointing in three directions to encourage social distancing from all sides. https://t.co/lenWejP1ws
— scott immordino (@ScottImmordino) May 15, 2020
A Virginia restaurant is taking a different approach:
Michelin-starred restaurant will seat mannequins at 50% of tables to make restaurant feel less empty… HAPPY DINING. https://t.co/mB4QFd5djJ pic.twitter.com/XYEQv7FwB8
— Complex (@Complex) May 13, 2020
The LA County Fair has been cancelled:
For the safety and well-being of our guests, vendors and staff, we announce today that we are canceling the 2020 #LACountyFair, following the guidelines of state and county public health officials who are advising against large public gatherings for the remainder of the year. pic.twitter.com/xvtu4XgrXM
— LA County Fair (@lacountyfair) May 15, 2020
The KAABOO San Diego music festival, scheduled for September, announced in an email this week they will, “make a final decision on holding KAABOO San Diego no later than June 15 as more information becomes available.”
The Lake Tahoe real estate market is booming. Why? “They all say the same thing, they want to get the hell out of where they’re at,” an agent told the Tahoe Daily Tribune.
The Palm Springs Air Museum’s Friday Flyover series will continue this afternoon. Classic planes are expected to flyover the City of La Quinta buildings, John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Indio City Hall, Coachella City Hall, the Coachella Valley Water District, and
Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport.
Thinking about some takeout this weekend? Here are some tasty local options:
Pop up Evzin at Draughtsman tonight Friday May 15th! Please show your support and help us get the word out and share…
Posted by Evzin Palm Springs on Friday, May 15, 2020
$13.95 BEST BBQ BOX TAKEOUT DEAL! Call to reserve yours! 11am Saturday until we run out.Two smoked pork ribs,…
Posted by Zobo & Meester's on Wednesday, May 13, 2020
That’s all for this morning. Stay safe. Stay smart. Stay home.
Thank you for your continued support of Cactus Hugs.
These are stressful times for all of us. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and our desert community stronger. This link has some resources to help with coping and also numbers to call or text if you, or someone you know, feels overwhelmed.
Please, take care of yourself and each other. You are important. You are valued. You are loved. ??
Anything we missed? Let us know about it.
