Coronavirus Cases Surpass 3,000 In Riverside County, 99 Dead

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The number of Riverside County coronavirus cases surpassed 3,000 Wednesday, with 124 new cases and six additional fatalities, bringing the countywide totals to 3,084 cases and 99 deaths.

Of the 250 people hospitalized with COVID-19 — the disease caused by the virus — 81 are being treated in intensive care units, up from 72 on Tuesday, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The documented number of people who have recovered from the virus stands at 789 — up by 32 from Tuesday.

See COVID-19 cases and deaths by city here.

The relaxation of certain COVID-19 restrictions continued Wednesday as Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that hospitals could resume "important" surgeries that were previously postponed. Hospitals across the state had put "elective" surgeries on pause in an effort to clear space for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients.

It is not immediately clear whether Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser will follow Newsom's lead right away. Patch has reached out for a statement.

A surge in hospitalized COVID-19 patients has not fully materialized in Riverside County due to social-distancing orders mandated by Kaiser and the governor's March 19 stay-home order, county health officials maintain.

On Tuesday, Riverside County Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the Board of Supervisors that about half of the county's hospital beds were occupied, though two-thirds of intensive care unit beds were full. Ventilator usage for respiratory failures stemming from COVID-19 and other hospitalizations were at one-third capacity, he said.

In an effort to collect more data that could keep infections and hospitalizations down, the state and county are ramping up COVID-19 testing and contact tracing. During the governor's news briefing, he announced the state will significantly increase COVID-19 swab testing following assurances Wednesday from President Trump that the federal government will provide needed testing supplies. The governor aims to test 60,000-80,000 Californians daily, he told reporters.

Riverside County health officials announced last week that all county residents can now get tested for the virus — whether they have symptoms or not — by making an appointment over the phone in advance: 800-945-6171. County-operated testing sites are open in Indio, Lake Elsinore, Riverside, Perris and Bythe.

About 33,635 people have been tested countywide, according to Riverside County University Health System-Public Health.

On Wednesday, the governor also announced the state has ordered 1.5 million serology tests from Abbott Laboratories. The tests are designed to detect antibodies in people previously infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. Newsom cautioned the serology tests are not replacing current COVID-19 swab testing, which he characterized as "priority."

In conjunction with the enhanced testing, Newsom said the state is building "an army of tracers" who will join existing healthcare workers in the state to help track the virus.

The testing efforts are part of plans laid out by Newsom and Trump to help get the economy running again.

State and local officials have warned, however, that reopening the economy will not be turned on like a switch but instead will be gradual and based on data.

The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve formation of a task force that will team with Riverside County agencies and private sector entities to identify policies and measures that can lift the region out of the fiscal doldrums.

For those who have questions about COVID-19 in Riverside County, a "virtual roundtable" is planned for 2 p.m Friday, April 24, via the Riverside University Health System-Public Health Facebook page. Anyone can tune in and send questions ahead of time to chawebmaster@ruhealth.org. Use Roundtable Question in the subject line.

—City News Service contributed to this report.

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