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 Thursday, Riverside County officials have confirmed 2,264 people have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 59 confirmed deaths in the county. County health officials also reported that 207 of the confirmed cases are currently hospitalized with 70 of them in the ICU. There have been 472 official recovered cases.
Here is the latest breakdown by city or area in the Coachella Valley:
- Cathedral City: 55 cases | 1 death
- Coachella: 73 cases | 0 deaths
- Desert Hot Springs: 26 cases | 0 deaths
- Indian Wells: 10 cases | 0 deaths
- Indio: 96 cases | 2 deaths
- La Quinta: 38 cases | 0 deaths
- Palm Desert: 69 cases | 5 deaths
- Palm Springs: 73 cases | 8 deaths
- Rancho Mirage: 23 cases | 3 deaths
- Unincorporated Areas (includes Bermuda Dunes, Mecca, Thermal, Thousand Palms and more): 50 cases | 0 deaths
Coachella now has as many cases as Palm Springs, while Indio leads the valley in # of confirmed cases. This is a reversal of trend. Could it have something to do with where “essential workers” (versus wealthy retirees) live? https://t.co/oWTUqEkjQu
— Sam Metz (@metzsam) April 16, 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 3 pm Thursday, there have been 27,634 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California. There have been 951 confirmed deaths in the state.
According to the CDC, these are the nationwide numbers as of 4 pm Wednesday:
- Total cases: 632,548
- Total deaths: 31,071
Eight workers and six residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at Plymouth Village retirement community in Redlands. One of those residents has died. The community says that all positive patients have been quarantined to rooms in a restricted area of the community’s health care center.
The coronavirus has killed young and old in cities large and small across the entire state. The LA Times shares some of the stories about the people we have lost in California from COVID-19.
David Werksman was “a real cop’s cop," a colleague said.
He was the second deputy in the Riverside County Sheriff’s department to pass from the virus.https://t.co/xzyDzjlhHc pic.twitter.com/2V2ShvUMkM
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) April 16, 2020
A San Diego physician has been charged with fraud in connection with the sale of what he described as a cure for coronavirus. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Dr. Jennings Ryan Staley promised his “cure” would “render customers immune to the virus for at least six weeks.” He was charging $4,000 for a treatment pack.
Earlier this week, Donald Trump stated that he alone would decide when the country would reopen, Thursday he unveiled broad guidelines for states to follow and left specific plans to governors.
Governors will be empowered to tailor an approach that meets the needs of their own states. pic.twitter.com/fnBjwtzCdd
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 16, 2020
Facebook will soon send a notice to users to let them know if they shared or interacted with dangerous coronavirus misinformation on the site. The alert, which will start appearing on Facebook in the coming weeks, will direct users to a site where the World Health Organization lists and debunks virus myths and rumors.
The state of California will now give those who work in the food sector at least two weeks of paid sick leave, Governor Gavin Newsom announced during his daily briefing on Thursday. “The people who grow our food, the people who pick our food, who pack our food, deliver our food, cook, serve and sell our food,” Newsom said, will be given supplemental pay if they contract COVID-19 or if quarantine orders inhibit them from going to work:
Workers in the food sector are the unsung heroes of this unprecedented time.
I signed an Executive Order that will increase sanitary measures and give 2 weeks of supplemental paid sick leave for #COVID19.
Our grocery lines have become our frontlines and must be treated as such.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 16, 2020
There have been plenty of issues regarding stimulus checks. ABC News goes over what to do if the funds are deposited in the wrong account, a deceased loved one gets a check, and more issues.
Ontario International Airport will receive $22.2 million during the slowdown from the coronavirus. The funding amounts to slightly more than one-fourth of the airport’s annual operating budget. It was earlier reported that Palm Springs International will receive $11 million in aid.
California home sales plunged 11.5% in March from February, according to the California Association of Realtors. It’s the first double-digit, month-to-month drop in more than nine years.
The City of Palm Desert has established a hotline for businesses in need of help with loans, grants, and other resources:
City of Palm Desert has created a new Business Support Hotline to provide information to the City’s business community. Call 760-776-6362 to get in touch with the City’s Economic Development Dept who can help answer questions on loans, grants, and other resources. pic.twitter.com/WWkZ7eyHZb
— PalmDesertGov (@PalmDesertGov) April 16, 2020
Los Angeles noticed that drivers have increased speeds by as much as 30 percent during the coronavirus pandemic, so they have modified traffic lights in an effort to slow cars down.
Desert Sun readers have thoughts and ideas ranging from using an honor system to swim in their community pool to bored, broke people shopping at recently opened furniture stores.
The White Party Palm Springs announced that a lineup of DJs will perform over two days on Facebook during the weekend that the in-person event was originally to be held, April 25 and 26.
The City of Big Bear Lake has canceled most events at least through June. The hope is to have the Fourth of July fireworks show on July 4 – but, there is a contingency plan to hold the show anytime between July 4 and October.
The Riverside County Library would like your thoughts on how they can best serve you during the pandemic. You can take an online survey here.
Kylie Jenner is still quarantining in La Quinta and took a little bit of time to add a sponsored post for makeup to Instagram from the family’s giant Madison Club home.
Thinking about grabbing some takeout tonight or this weekend?
LULU To-Go online ordering is NOW OPEN DAILY from 11:30 am to 7pm! Place your order today to enjoy favorites like our wild mushroom soup, signature meatloaf, pizzas, burgers and so much more. Some entrees can be ordered “family-style” for parties of two or four.Ordering is very simple, easy and cashless. Just go to our website and click on the “order here” button. After placing your order online, schedule a pick up time, follow the instructions for payment, and your order will be waiting for you – hygienically bagged and ready – at LULU on our “socially-distanced” entrance table.#WereInThisTogether Palm Springs!Order here: www.lulupalmsprings.com#alonetogether #takeout #togo #PalmSprings #foodie #LULU
Posted by Lulu California Bistro 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.
