Coachella Valley coronavirus update | News and info for Wednesday, 3/25

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 59 positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.  There have been six deaths in the county. The number of cases have doubled in the last four days.

• San Bernardino County has confirmed 38 cases of COVID-19.  There has been one death in San Bernardino County.
• Half of the more than 2,000 people in California who have tested positive are between the ages 18 and 49.  “Young people can and will be impacted by this virus,” Gov. Newsom said on Tuesday. “This disease impacts everybody.”
• Hours after announcing a 17-year-old in Lancaster had died of coronavirus, LA County Health Officials released a follow-up statement adding that the person’s death could have another explanation and was still under investigation. “Though early tests indicated a positive result for COVID-19, the case is complex and there may be an alternate explanation for this fatality,” the health department wrote.
• A worker at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Moreno Valley has tested positive for COVID-19.  The company is asking employees who worked in close contact with the diagnosed individual to self-quarantine for 14 days. Amazon is giving up to two weeks pay to employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or in quarantine.
• Prince Charles has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Hours after Palm Springs closed its golf courses, Cathedral City did the same.  The city also ordered the closure of short-term rentals, lodging facilities, and home shares considered non-essential businesses.

• The Senate finally agreed on a bill to provide economic relief.  They will vote on it this afternoon.
• What’s in the relief package.  The New York Times has a breakdown of what you can expect.
• The bill prevents Trump, his family, and other government officials from benefitting from the assistance and loan programs.
• The State of California has a webpage dedicated to general guidance as to what unemployment assistance programs that are available and what situations may be applicable during the pandemic.
• After postings an “SOS” on Instagram last week, a Coachella Valley farm has been assisted by a popular LA bakery to help distribute their produce.
• You probably weren’t thinking about raising your own chickens during the coronavirus pandemic, but you couldn’t do that even if you wanted to.
• The Cross Hike in Palm Desert has been packed with people:

This is clearly NOT social distancing. All these cars at the trail head of the Cross hike in Palm Desert mean too many people are on the trail. One resident tells me it has looked like this since last Saturday. Use common sense, if it looks this crowded, go somewhere else to hike pic.twitter.com/6CldrCUCmR

— Karen Devine (@KarenDevineKESQ) March 25, 2020

• Ralphs grocery stores said on Tuesday it will install plexiglass barriers to separate shoppers from cashiers. Albertsons has said it will do the same.
• A local party rental company has shifted from setting up events and parties to setting up for medical staff.

• A local Mexican restaurant delivered 400 burritos to valley farmworkers on Tuesday.

• A Palm Springs restaurant is offering free meals to the homeless:

• A videographer flew a drone through San Francisco this weekend.  The normally busy city was basically a ghost town:

• Goldenvoice has postponed all of their events through May.
• Coachella and Stagecoach have been moved to the fall this year. A Valley bartender writes that  for the events to be permanently moved to October.

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:https://twitter.com/RivCoDA/status/1242593074766696449
      • 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.
      • Schools are closed, but free student meals are available.  Here is the information on meal programs during this time for each Coachella Valley school district.
      • 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.

pic.twitter.com/kFNIDq0Z4S

— Eisenhower Health (@EisenhowerHeal) March 9, 2020

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.