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 Wednesday, Riverside County officials have confirmed:
- 4,672 people have tested positive for COVID-19. 218 people have tested positive in the last 24 hours.
- 186 people are confirmed to have died in the county from the coronavirus. There were two new people reported dead in the last 24 hours.
- There are currently 207 confirmed cases hospitalized, with 84 of them in the ICU.
- There have been 1,997 official recovered cases in the county.
- The county has conducted 63,399 tests.
As of 4 pm Wednesday, San Bernardino County has confirmed 2,432 cases of COVID-19. There have been 104 deaths in San Bernardino County.
As of 11 pm Wednesday, there have been 60,635 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California. There have been 2,462 confirmed deaths in the state.
U.S. curve isn't bending @JohnsHopkins @axios pic.twitter.com/8dAtuH7tRm
— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) May 7, 2020
The numbers are increasing everyday. They are not just numbers. They are people. The individual stories are heartbreaking:
Azusa father dies of coronavirus at 47; all 10 family members test positive https://t.co/hn3r5n1ezf
— Joseph Williams (@jswilliams) May 7, 2020
After 44 years behind bars as a juvenile lifer, William Garrison was set to be released on May 6. But just three weeks short of his release date, he died of complications from the coronavirus.
Read more about the lives of those lost to COVID-19: https://t.co/71k26qlLNk pic.twitter.com/rOfh5xwmsc
— TIME (@TIME) May 7, 2020
Daniel Zane, 94, who had the coronavirus, dies two days after his wife, Valerie, 91, whose health was long in decline. Their daughters say the loss is twice as hard. Obit by @kseelye https://t.co/EkSJcgb1Pj
— NYT Obituaries (@NYTObits) May 6, 2020
A 17 page report from the CDC, titled “Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework,” was researched and written to help businesses, churches, schools, and state and local offices as they begin to reopen. The Trump administration has shelved the document, according to the Associated Press. It was supposed to be published last Friday, but agency scientists were told the guidance “would never see the light of day.”
Those wishing to join the American military, but who have been hospitalized with coronavirus, could be temporarily barred from joining the armed forces, according to a Pentagon memo. The Defense Department said the measure was “interim guidance,” and that it most likely would be updated as military officials learn more about the disease and its long-term risk to someone joining the military.
2/…(b) official emphasizes this is not a ban since individuals can get waivers.
Official says the underlying idea is that so little is known about the disease, doctors need to look at it more closely and figure out are there long-term medical impacts to consider for enlistees
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 7, 2020
There are currently a lot of potential therapies and vaccines in the works for coronavirus. This website is tracking all of them.
A member of the US Navy who serves as one of President Donald Trump’s personal valets has tested positive for coronavirus, according to CNN. The positive test has raised concerns about the President’s possible exposure to the virus. A source told CNN that Trump was upset when he was informed of the news and was tested again for coronavirus.
Trump was upset when he was informed Wednesday that the valet had tested positive, a source told CNN, and he was subsequently tested again by the White House physician. https://t.co/230RoTvGtA
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) May 7, 2020
Nurses held a protest at the White House on Thursday morning. They are asking for the White House to secure more Personal Protective Equipment for health care workers:
Right now at the White House:
Nurses from National Nurses United protest for PPE, with 88 pairs of shoes to represent each nurse who has died from coronavirus.
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) May 7, 2020
California will likely have a budget shortfall of $54.3 billion because of the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration announced on Thursday. The state that had a $21 billion surplus a year ago.
During a study session of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the La Quinta city council questioned why there would be a 7% increase for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to provide services in the city for the upcoming year. La Quinta is expecting a $2.9 million deficit in the new fiscal year, on top of the estimated $7.05 million in lost revenue from March to June 30. The increase “in a pandemic with a decimated economy is completely unacceptable,” Mayor Linda Evans told the city’s police chief, Capt. Misty Reynolds. “It disturbs me like you have no idea.”
California’s largest restaurant association has submitted a plan to the governor to reopen sit down restaurants and the plan calls for some big changes: Only family members or people who live together would be allowed to sit at the same table (though it’s not clear that would be enforced). In addition, buffets, salad bars and shared bread baskets would not be happening and salt and pepper shakers would be replaced by bottles of hand sanitizer. Meals would arrive to the table from food servers wearing face masks.
Riverside County’s Economic Recovery Task Force is expanding after criticism that the volunteer group lacked labor, health, and non-business perspectives.
Tourism officials had estimated that Los Angeles County would draw about 51 million people this year. But, that was before coronavirus. Now, they have revised their estimate to 29 million tourists, which means more than $13 billion in lost tourist spending.
Neiman Marcus has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the second major retailer (J. Crew being the other) to be toppled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Coachella Valley florists are gearing up for Mother’s Day, with many offering contactless delivery. “I think the anticipation is because people aren’t out and about, traveling and visiting each other the hope is that because people are in their homes they’re looking for alternatives instead of a visit, going out to eat and that’s where a gift like flowers come in,” a local florist told the Desert Sun.
KMIR went to El Paseo to see how stores on the Palm Desert street plan to eventually reopen. The El Paseo board of directors have come up with a list of elements to have ready for reopening including face masks, hand sanitizer, a plan for sanitation, and signage at the door explaining the rules in place.
Finally, need a drink? The desert’s local breweries have you covered:
New Beers Out Now —— Desert Saison (6.5%), 7sixOhhh Hazy IPA (6.25%), Bloody Good Sour (Blood Orange Sour, 5%), Mexican…
Posted by Devon Sanchez on Wednesday, May 6, 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.
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.
