Awful Coronavirus Moment In Riverside County, State

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Wednesday marked the deadliest day of the coronavirus outbreak in California, with the epicenter of the outbreak in Los Angeles. In all, 115 people died statewide from COVID-19 over the last day — 68 of the fatal cases were clustered in Los Angeles County, California public health officials said on Thursday.

While Riverside County's death toll rose by just one person Thursday, any death is tragic. But it was a particularly grim mark: The county has now lost 100 people to the illness. Thursday's death was a Riverside man in his 70s. His city continues to be hardest hit by COVID-19 in the county — 571 cases and 21 deaths.

The number of COVID-19 cases rose to 3,218 Thursday in Riverside County, up from 3,084 on Wednesday. The number of residents who've recovered from the illness stands at 904, but there are currently 229 people hospitalized with the virus — 84 of them in intensive care units.

See Riverside County caseloads and death counts by city here.

By comparison, on Thursday Los Angeles County reported another 1,081 cases of COVID-19, bringing the overall total there to 17,508. Sadly, the county has lost 797 residents to the virus.

According to the Los Angeles County public health director, an average of 44 people have died from COVID-19 in the county each day since April 12, making it the leading cause of death in Los Angeles County. On average, five people a day die from influenza during flu season in the county, while 31 per day die of coronary heart disease.

San Diego County trails just behind Riverside County in its COVID-19 cases with 2,643. Thursday marked SD county's largest single-day increase in positive cases — 152 — since the coronavirus pandemic began. Like its neighbor to the north, the county has lost 100 people to the illness.

The somber figures are a sign that California is not out the woods yet, said Gov. Gavin Newsom, who indicated that he would not lift the statewide shutdown orders in the face of mounting pressure to loosen restrictions.

Riverside County has relaxed some restrictions, but they are few and the region's top health official has warned he will tighten the reins if residents don't adhere to the modified orders and/or if there is a spike in cases. For an updated list of answers to questions concerning state and local orders, read this recently updated county FAQ.

For people who are experiencing high stress due to emotional challenges presented by the virus, Riverside County officials announced Thursday that residents have free access to live support via text chat from peer support specialists and counselors through a new computer and smartphone app called TakeMyHand.co (the URL is a .co and not a .com site).

“This is an example of using leading-edge technology to bring behavioral health care to people where and when they need it,” said Dr. Matthew Chang, director of Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health, which developed the app. “The 24/7 availability means that people can get support without a delay or need to travel outside their home."

The app uses a chat format to connect individuals with specialists who are trained to interact with people expressing concerns about difficult feelings and behaviors. TakeMyHand.co provides an alternative to telephone and video calls for those who prefer text as their primary form of communication. A comprehensive list of Riverside County wellness and recovery resources is also available at the TakeMyHand.co site, which is confidential and does not require a login, username or password.

“I appreciate that Behavioral Health is always there for our community, and especially now,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “These are excellent services that provide support and hope.”

Although the app is not a substitute for the care of a licensed clinical professional, many people may find it to be a useful outlet to help calm their anxiety and regain their center, according to county officials.

Anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis can immediately contact 2-1-1 or call the behavioral health CARES line at (800) 706-7500. A 24/7 free, confidential crisis or suicide intervention service can be reached at (951) 686-HELP (4357).

—Patch editor Paige Austin contributed to this report.

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