Coachella Valley coronavirus news and info | Wednesday, May 27

By
Casey Dolan
-
(?: Sharon Calcagno)

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 3 pm Wednesday, Riverside County officials have confirmed:

  • 7,252 people have officially tested positive for COVID-19.
    • 135 people have been reported to have tested positive in the last 24 hours.
  • 306 people are confirmed to have died in the county from the coronavirus.
    • There were 3 reported deaths of people in the last 24 hours.
  • There are currently 207 confirmed cases hospitalized.
    • 68 of those people in the ICU.
  • There have been 4,297 official recovered cases in the county.
  • The county has conducted 108,862 tests.

Riverside County health officials have also announced that 51 patients have been recently transferred to the county from Imperial County.  Another 12 patients entered Riverside County hospitals as walk-ins.  Riverside County officials confirmed with KESQ that the county’s numbers of current patients has increased over the past couple of days due to patients being brought in from Imperial County.

As of 3 pm Wednesday, San Bernardino County has confirmed 4,777 cases of COVID-19.  There have been 183 deaths in San Bernardino County.

As of 4 pm Wednesday, there have been 101,031 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California.  There have been 3,893 confirmed deaths in the state.

The United Stated reached a grim milestone on Wednesday:

The numbers increase everyday.  They are more than just numbers.  They are people we have lost:

As the economy continues to reopen, health officials in California are growing nervous about a potential second wave of coronavirus. Dr. Sara Cody, the public health officer who led the nation’s first regional shelter-in-place order, told Santa Clara county supervisors that Gov. Newsmon’s reopening moves were outpacing the coronavirus’s 14-day incubation period. “So the state modifications are being made without a real understanding of the consequences of what the last move has been.”  Meanwhile, a UC Berkeley infectious disease professor told SFGate, “I predict October is going to be our darkest month.”

The Desert Sun breaks down deaths from COVID-19 in the Coachella Valley and Palm Desert has the highest count at 21.  La Quinta and Palm Springs have the next highest total, with each having 9 deaths. A county official told the newspaper there is no clear reason as to why deaths have clustered in Palm Desert – but they did note that of those 21 people who have died from the virus, 95% were 65 years or older, 57% were living in an assisted living facility and 52% had an underlying health condition. They also mentioned that some had all three characteristics, increasing their likelihood for severe complications from the virus.

In a new poll, only 50% of Americans said they would get a COVID-19 vaccine if one was successfully created. The poll, from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found 31% simply weren’t sure if they’d get vaccinated. One in five people said they would flat-out refuse to get tested.  Those behind the poll believe the low number of those willing to get the vaccine is due to the safety of it being a big concern, with worries over the vaccine being created too quickly. “I am not an anti-vaxxer,” said Melanie Dries, 56, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. But, “to get a COVID-19 vaccine within a year or two … causes me to fear that it won’t be widely tested as to side effects.”

In a pilot study at the University of Helsinki, researchers claim that dogs trained as medical diagnostic assistants were taught, in just a couple of weeks, to accurately distinguish urine samples from COVID-19 patients from urine samples of healthy individuals. “We have solid experience in training disease-related scent detection dogs. It was fantastic to see how fast the dogs took to the new smell,” said the leader of the research team.

Soboba Casino Resort near San Jacinto and the new Cahuilla Casino Hotel near Anza both opened their doors to the public on Wednesday and it looks like someone is already taking home a giant check:

The Press Enterprise reports that California mortgage applications have increased for seven consecutive weeks, including an 11.6% jump for the week ended May 22. The surge in applications has the market off just 1.7% from last year’s pace.  And while May has seen far more buyers than April, it’s unclear if this upswing is simply delayed activity back on pace or some bigger purchasing push.

Gov. Gavin Newsom held a roundtable discussion on Wednesday to talk to those in the fitness industryabout how to reopen that sector of the state’s economy.  Newsom says he hopes that within a week or so, the state can release guidelines for reopening the state’s gyms.

Palm Springs Windmill Tours have announced they have started up Self-Driving Tours, which are approved by the California Department of Public Health. The self-driving tours are designed to be safe, fun and educational for the entire family, while practicing safe social distancing requirements.  Those who want to take a tour arrive in their own car and are encouraged to stop and exit the car to view up to 10 exhibits with 11 and 12 as optional ending up above a vista for great photo ops.  Masks are required and they haved placed markers around tfor safe social distancing.  Tours start on Saturday, with reservations available now.  Price is $40.00 per car with a maximum of 8 people. You can get more info at windmilltours.com.

A report claims that Coachella organizers are talking to 2020 acts about potentially performing in 2021.  While the chance of a large festival happening in Indio in just a few months does seem pretty slim at this point, to hear that talks are underway and the desert may not see any festivals, and the economic boom that come with them in 2020, still stings.

Finally, good for her!  Cheers, Jennie!:

That’s all for this evening. 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.

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