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, and thank you for your continued support of Cactus Hugs.
As of 1 pm Saturday, Riverside County officials have confirmed 665 people have tested positive for COVID-19. There have been 18 confirmed deaths in the county.
As of 8 am Sunday, San Bernardino County has confirmed 372 cases of COVID-19. There has been 13 deaths in San Bernardino County.
As of 7:11 am Sunday, there have been 13,929 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California. There have been 321 deaths in the state.
Public health experts believe coronavirus is almost certainly killing Americans who are not included in the nation’s growing death toll, reports the Washington Post. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counts only deaths in which the presence of the coronavirus is confirmed in a laboratory test. “We know that it is an underestimation,” agency spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said.
“This is going to be our Pearl Harbor Moment.” The US Surgeon General warns this is going to be “the hardest and saddest week of most Americans’ lives.”
ON NEXT: Dr. Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General, on where the U.S. is heading in the fight against coronavirus. Will this week be the peak? Check you local listings. #FNS #FoxNews #BeatCOVID_19 #TogetherAtHome pic.twitter.com/rdP9tAyt8c
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) April 5, 2020
Riverside County’s top health official ordered that no gatherings of any number of people take place outside of people living in the same home. He also ordered everyone to wear a face covering when leaving home, including essential workers. “While more and more Riverside County residents are getting COVID-19, not everybody’s getting the message,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer. “It started with staying home, social distance and covering your face. But now we change from saying that you should to saying that you must.”
Riverside County Public Health Officer orders public to stay home and cover face when leaving: https://t.co/xNGt6f1OMo #rivconow #ruhealth #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/iHwHuS8NXU
— Dr. Cameron Kaiser (@RivCoDoc) April 5, 2020
COVID-19 is spreading rapidly through California’s nursing homes and assisted-living centers. As the LA Times reports, the older populations of these facilities almost always have underlying health problems, making them particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus.
A review of federal purchasing contracts by The Associated Press shows federal agencies waited until mid-March to begin placing bulk orders of N95 respirator masks, mechanical ventilators and other equipment needed by front-line health care workers. “We basically wasted two months,” Kathleen Sebelius, health and human services secretary during the Obama administration, told AP.
“I remember one night just lying in bed … I felt like I could actually die, you know. I could barely breathe.” – an Inland Empire nurse, who believes he got coronavirus while in New Orleans, details his nine day hospitalization to ABC 7.
“I’m extremely concerned that Slab City could become a hotbed” – The Desert Sun reports on life at Slab City during the pandemic.
San Diego cited nearly two dozen people for not following social distancing orders. “While we thank the public as a whole for their continued cooperation, there are some who choose to intentionally ignore the orders and congregate in groups of ten or more in parks, parking lots, beaches, locations deemed non-essential, or other public spaces,” San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Amber Baggs told News 10.
The Palm Springs Police Department is adapting:
#PalmSpringsPD will always be here for the City of Pam Springs. We will adapt, be resourceful, be compassionate, uphold the law, and lead our community during the #Covid19Pandemic #TogetherPS pic.twitter.com/Ls4yBSkYcd
— Palm Springs PD (@PalmSpringsPD) April 5, 2020
Local casinos fear that once they are able to open their doors again, business won’t be like it was prior to the coronavirus outbreak for quite a while.
Zoom, which has seen usage soar over the last few weeks, is enacting a couple of new security measures.
A nurse shows how fast germs can spread, even if you are wearing gloves:
That’s all for this morning. Thank you for continued your 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.
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.
— 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.
