New Coronavirus Cases See One-Day Drop In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — In a week that saw a record number of new coronavirus infections, Riverside County health officials Thursday reported three COVID-19 deaths and 237 newly confirmed infections, marking the lowest one-day case increase since mid June.

Total known infections stand at 15,142, with the death toll at 435, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The RUHS data showed 311 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in county hospitals, three fewer than Wednesday, but the number being treated in intensive care units was up by three to 95.

The 237 cases reported Thursday represent the lowest daily increase since June 15, when 177 cases were reported. On Tuesday, officials reported 631 new cases, the largest one-day increase since the pandemic began in March.

The number of documented patient recoveries was reported at 7,272 on Thursday.

Emergency Management Department Director Bruce Barton told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that 10 to 15 patients a day are being transferred from Imperial County, which is battling a major outbreak, to Riverside County and surrounding jurisdictions. However, fewer than a dozen of those patients are currently in medical facilities within Riverside County.

Barton added that part of the surge in hospitalizations, which were below 250 a week ago, is attributable to COVID-19 outbreaks in state prisons in the region, which contract with the Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley for care of inmates. However, as of Thursday, only 19 inmates are currently hospitalized in Riverside County, according to data from RUHS.

Sheriff Chad Bianco told the board Tuesday that the number of infections in the county correctional system was down to two, and those patients are asymptomatic. At one point, the caseload was over 200.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that Riverside was one of 11 counties the state is watching due to coronavirus surges. Since Monday, the state watchlist has increased to 15 counties, including Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Imperial, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa.
Riverside County made the list because of its increasing positivity and hospitalization rates, according to the California Department of Public Health.

Recent news:
—According to RUHS, 3,500 randomly selected residents will be asked to take part in antibody studies to determine whether they've been exposed and have already recovered from the virus. Residents cannot volunteer for the antibody research, and those who agree to participate after random sampling will have their blood drawn at one of nine sites countywide.
More information is available at www.rivcoph.org/antibodystudy.

—Newsom last week ordered all California residents to wear face coverings in most settings outside their homes to help slow the spread of the virus. Outdoor exercise is one of the few exceptions. The statewide mandaterequires residents to wear masks in "high-risk situations," which cover virtually all scenarios. Riverside County had previously rescinded its mask mandate.

—More county businesses were allowed to open their doors last Friday as the coronavirus regulatory bar was lowered further. Nail salons, facial and esthetician providers, shaving, waxing and threading businesses, massage therapy outlets and tattoo and piercing parlors countywide were deemed eligible to resume operation under guidelines specified by the state.

—City News Service, Patch Editor Toni McAllister contributed to this report.