Coachella Valley coronavirus update | News and info for Saturday 3/21

By
Casey Dolan
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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.

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  • The family of a man who was stabbed and killed outside of an Indio Circle K told KESQ that they “can’t get full closure after learning that the coronavirus halted all possibilities for a proper funeral” due to social distancing and crowd size limitations.
  • The Press Enterprise has more detailed reporting about the changes in the funeral industry during the pandemic.
  • Desert Aids Project Two announced three positive cases of coronavirus at their clinic.  Two are people over the age of 55. One is over the age of 30. All three are considered mild cases and are self-quarantining at home.
  • A Facebook post by the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps base posted on Friday states there is one case of COVID-19 is in Yucca Valley. Due to privacy concerns, the only information released is that the patient is a civilian man who is not affiliated with the base.

  •  A respiratory therapist described what they are seeing in patients to Propublica.  “It first struck me how different it was when I saw my first coronavirus patient go bad,” he said. “I was like, Holy shit, this is not the flu. Watching this relatively young guy, gasping for air, pink frothy secretions coming out of his tube.”
  • Some local businesses are, understandably, confused about whether or not they are allowed to open.
  • Indio City manager goes into detail about what businesses they have been told are essential and which are forbidden and here is a memo by the Department of Homeland security identifying critical infrastructure workers.
  • While many workers stay at home, some are still the field working to make sure essential services continue:

  • Workers at Stater Bros. are getting a pay increase next week.
  • SunLine is cutting back some bus routes.  Last week, they started offering free fares to minimize contact between riders and drivers.
  • The City of Indian Wells predicts a revenue hit of at least $5.5 million.  The city has laid off approximately 170 staff from city-owned Indian Wells Golf Resort the golf course, Vue restaurant, and clubhouse.
  • Congress still hasn’t come to an agreement on a relief package.
  • The governor is deploying the California National Guard to provide short-term security and distribution at food banks.
  • The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians donated over 10,000 pounds of perishable goods from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino to the FIND Food Bank.
  • Coachella Valley school districts are finding ways to provide educational supplies and emotional support to students and families.
  • People in the Coachella Valley are finding new ways to stay active.
  • A Desert Sun reader asks Desert Healthcare District to rethink the $10 million in funds it has dedicated to the CV Link in the wake of the coronavirus.
  • A Southern California company that would normally be spending this time setting up at tents and lounges at Coachella and Stagecoach are currently working with medical officials to build tents and infrastructure at hospitals.
  • An Indio resident celebrated her 12th birthday and her family got a little creative to make sure she could spend it with family and loves ones:

  • So Cal reporters are also doing things a bit differently these days:

  • The Washington Post offers plenty of ways that you can help during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • 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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