Coachella Valley coronavirus update | News and info for Monday, 3/23

By
Casey Dolan
-
Palm Desert (?: Courtney Hoddick)

Cactus Hugs has been tracking local stories about the coronavirus.  Some links might be behind that other website’s paywall…nothing we can do about that, sorry.  For a rundown of all of our updates, click here.

  • Riverside County has confirmed 45 people infected with COVID-19.  There have been six deaths in the county.   San Bernardino County has confirmed 19 cases.

  • Each of the six who have died are from the Coachella Valley.  The latest death was a man in his 80s who died in a local Coachella Valley hospital.
  • The LA Times is tracking coronavirus in California, with over 1,800 confirmed cases statewide and 35 deaths.
  • Loyal reader DL shares this photo of the rental cars stacked up at Palm Springs International Airport:

  • Joshua Tree is being inundated with people, despite the closure of roads in the nearby National Park.  Residents are shooing away trespassers.   As the LA Times notes, some are seeking to shelter in place in a vacation rental with potential renters seeking weeklong or even monthlong airbnb stays with prospective renters asking things like, “Do you have anything available for several weeks or longer?” and “Do you have internet access?”  Meanwhile, the county reminds short-term rental owners that lodging facilities may not operate unless they are housing infrastructure workers, or unless leased by the state or county to house confirmed COVID-19 patients

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for a few weeks longer

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  • For those thinking of heading up to the mountains, Big Bear is closed to overnight visitors and the Forest Service warns that search and rescue operations may be limited, so this would be a bad time to get lost or do something stupid:

  • A doctor warns that while one might think escaping the city right now might seem like a good idea, it is actually wrong and very dangerous.
  • After seeing many people flock to the beaches over the weekend, officials throughout Southern California are putting up new restrictions like closing piers and taping off basketball and volleyball courts.
  • And while there are some who are not doing their part by practicing social distancing and staying home, videos like this suggests that most people in Southern California are:
  • The New York Times has a photo gallery of landmarks and places around the world, normally always very crowded, now almost completely empty.
  • Congress is still dicking around instead of finding a way to send you a check.
  • Locals are still looking to stock up on that toilet paper:

  • A reminder: A local desert Facebook Group, Coachella Valley Mask Makers, are asking for volunteers to help make medical masks for local healthcare workers.  They have announced pickup and drop-off times at two Palm Desert parks for this week:

  • There are a lot of very good furry friends in the desert who could use good homes.  Local shelters are finding creative ways for prospective adopters to meet some of them:

  • CV Independent is out with a quarantine playlist featuring local musicians.
  • This isn’t a terrible idea:

  • Here’s a guide to take-out, curbside, and delivery specials being offered by Coachella Valley restaurants.

Important information:

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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