Coachella Valley coronavirus news and info | Thursday, June 18

By
Casey Dolan
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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. Thank you for your continued support of Cactus Hugs. For ways to keep this website going (and free!), click here.

As of 3 pm Thursday, Riverside County officials have confirmed:

  • 12,467 people have officially tested positive for COVID-19.  A whopping 516 people have been reported positive in the last 24 hours – which is the highest number reported in a single day since this whole thing started.
  • 408 people are confirmed to have died in the county from the coronavirus. This number includes 9 reported death in the last 24 hours.

Here’s the latest from the Coachella Valley:

Riverside County’s coronavirus website made new data available on Thursday regarding hospital beds in the county:

As of 3 pm Thursday, San Bernardino County has confirmed:

  • 8,454 people have officially tested positive for COVID-19.
  • 230 people are confirmed to have died in the county from the coronavirus.

As of 4 pm Thursday, the State of California has confirmed:

  • 165,383 people have official tested positive for COVID-19.
  • 5,316 people are confirmed to have died in the state of CA from the coronavirus.

The numbers increase everyday…

They are more than just numbers…

They are people we have lost:

 

More than a month after Riverside County’s board of Supervisors voted against the recommendations of their own health officer and did away with mask regulations, they are back in the county (and the entire state) as California officials have now implemented mandatory masks statewide in most indoor settings.  Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the new guidelines on Thursday.  “Science shows that face coverings and masks work,” the governor said in a statement announcing the order. “They are critical to keeping those who are around you safe, keeping businesses open and restarting our economy.”:

So what are the rules, exactly, well, the state says masks are required in the following situations:

  • Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space;
  • Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not
    limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or
    dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank;
  • Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a
    taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
  • Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when:
    • Interacting in-person with any member of the public;
    • Working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless
      of whether anyone from the public is present at the time;
    • Working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others;
    • Working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities;
    • In any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance.
  • Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi,
    or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present.
    When no passengers are present, face coverings are strongly
    recommended.
  • While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of
    6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or
    residence is not feasible.

There are exceptions such as people who are hearing impaired, children under two, and those with medical conditions. You can read all of the guidelines, exceptions, and more here.

A new study from two universities in California and two in Texas suggests that among all the strategies for reducing transmission, wearing face masks may be the central variable that determines the spread of the virus. “Our analysis reveals that the difference with and without mandated face covering represents the determinant in shaping the trends of the pandemic,” the team, from Texas A&M University, the University of Texas at Austin, California Institute of Technology, and the University of California San Diego, write in their new paper.  The researchers looked at outbreaks in Wuhan, Italy, and New York City.  What they found is that when it came to effectiveness in managing the outbreak, the stay-at-home and social distancing orders didn’t do a lot, but the curve really started to change after masks were mandatory.

So yeah, wear your masks, people.

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Wednesday warned of problems from an “anti-science bias” in the country. “One of the problems we face in the United States is that unfortunately, there is a combination of an anti-science bias that people are — for reasons that sometimes are, you know, inconceivable and not understandable — they just don’t believe science and they don’t believe authority,” Fauci said. “So when they see someone up in the White House, which has an air of authority to it, who’s talking about science, that there are some people who just don’t believe that — and that’s unfortunate because, you know, science is truth.”:

The World Health Organization said on Thursday that it’s hoping to produce a few hundred million coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of 2020 and up to 2 billion by the end of next year as pharmaceutical firms continue to search a vaccine.  The United Nations health body is making plans to decide who is eligible to receive the first batch of doses once a vaccine is approved, Reuters reported.

A study of 20,000 hospitalized coronavirus patients who received transfusions of blood plasma from people who recovered found the treatment was safe and researchers suggest that the treatment may be beneficial to people early in the disease.

27 patients and 13 staff at Vista Cove, a memory care facility in Rancho Mirage, have tested positive for coronavirus. The assisted living facility treats seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia. So far, no coronavirus-related deaths or hospitalizations have been reported, according to county health officials.

California, along with Arizona, Florida, South Carolina and Texas all reported record high single-day increases in coronavirus cases on Thursday.

A proposed rent relief plan would give Californians 10 years to make up payments. Senate Majority leader Bob Hertzberg’s  proposal would give relief to renters who lost their jobs or had their wages cut during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Friday, nail salons, facial and esthetician providers, shaving, waxing and threading businesses, massage therapy outlets and tattoo and piercing parlors countywide will be eligible to reopen in Riverside County, provided they follow guidelines specified by the California Department of Public Health.

Fantasy Springs Casino is bringing back boxing, but not with fans.  Bouts will take place on July 24 and be streamed online.

Finally…

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.

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