Coachella Valley coronavirus news and info | Monday evening, April 20

By
Casey Dolan
-
(?: Susie Mintie Magged)

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 Monday, Riverside County officials have confirmed:

  • 2,847 people have tested positive for COVID-19.    
  • 85 people are confirmed to have died in the county from the coronavirus.  10 people have died in the county in the last 24 hours.
  • There are currently 236 confirmed cases hospitalized, with 73 of them in the ICU.
  • There have been 700 official recovered cases in the county.

As of 2 pm Monday, San Bernardino County has confirmed 1,406 cases of COVID-19.  There have been 60 deaths in San Bernardino County.

As of 4 pm Monday, there have been 33,686 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California.  There have been 1,223 confirmed deaths in the state.

The numbers are increasing everyday.  They are not just numbers.  They are people.  The individual stories are heartbreaking:

Twelve residents at the Hi-Desert Continuing Care Center in Joshua Tree have tested positive for coronavirus. Two of those 12 residents have died.  Residents were tested after one resident at the facility began showing symptoms for coronavirus. 88 tested negative.

Facebook released the first maps of people reporting symptoms of COVID-19 on Monday, offering county-by-county data to help track the spread of the virus.  In Riverside County, 0.59% reported showing symptoms, while the number was slightly lower (0.56%) in San Bernardino County.  The data is self-reported based on symptoms and does not indicate individuals actually testing positive for the virus.

CNN’s Brooke Baldwin detailed on Sunday what it’s been like the past 2 week for her as she fights the virus. “I got sick and lost my ability to do my job,” Baldwin’s essay read. “I was suddenly cut off from my purpose, and even isolated from my own husband, left to experience the virus firsthand all by myself. Like so many others.”  She added that the coronavirus “zapped” both her appetite and her energy, causing her to sleep “10-12 hours at night, waking many mornings soaking wet having sweat through the sheets.”  She added that she developed a “golf-ball sized gland” under her jaw.

Three weeks ago, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Google would provide 100,000 free points of access to improve Wi-Fi and broadband capacity across the state.  Monday, the state detailed expanded plans to enhance distance learning for California students, including giving more than 70,000 students laptops, Chromebooks or tablets, so that students who do not have devices at home can participate in distance learning:

Meanwhile, in Washington DC:

Congress and the White House are still trying to agree on more money to fund small businesses after handing out most of the initial money in the stimulus fund to large companies.

Golf is back in Riverside County, but could go away again if those on the courses don’t follow the new rules.

A week after deeming itself an :”essential business” and reopening during a pandemic, Mathis Brothers Furniture has closed their Indio store.

The Mayor of Palm Desert argues in a wild essay that California’s non-essential businesses should be opened back up due to an unproven theory of “herd immunity” and by comparing the COVID-19 pandemic to car crashes. “40,000 people die from automobile accidents every year,” writes Mayor Gina Nestande.  “We could bring that number close to zero if we mandated that cars be built with one-foot bumpers all around the outside and fitted with a roll bar cage on the inside, with a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour. Risk is inherent in life.”  Just a quick note here, at last check, car crashes are not contagious.  Also, drivers are currently required to obey many laws mandated by the government while operating a vehicle such as speed limits and wearing seatbelts – measures that were put in place to keep people from dying.

Thinking about grabbing some takeout?

We’ve brought back fish and chips and Canadian dry riblets for a limited time! Call us for these or any of our other items including beer, wine and liquor specials 760-200-9844

Posted by Big Rock Pub on Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Ok our breakfast box feeds 4 people so 10 pancakes , 12 pieces bacon, scrambled eggs for 4 , 8 pieces toast , 4 bloody Mary’s, or 4 soft drinks of your choice $60.00 plus tax

Posted by Sloan's Restaurant on Thursday, April 16, 2020

That’s all for this evening. 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.

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.

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