Health & Fitness
1 In 5 Tested For Coronavirus Are Positive In Riverside County
The county is seeing increased COVID-19 hospitalizations, including at Eisenhower Health where a federal medical team has been deployed.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — More than 700 new coronavirus infections were reported in Riverside County Tuesday, and a health official said one-fifth of county residents screened for the virus now test positive. It was also announced that a federal team made up of active military medical personnel will arrive in the Coachella Valley this week to assist Eisenhower Health hospital manage its influx of COVID-19 patients.
County Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that the average positivity rate for those screened for COVID-19 countywide is at 20 percent, more than double the preferred state threshold of 8 percent.
"The high positivity rate is something we continue to watch," Saruwatari said.
Countywide, 294,389 COVID-19 screenings have been conducted.
A total of 733 new COVID-19 cases were reported countywide Tuesday, bringing the total number to 26,481. Of those cases, 9,893 have recovered from the illness.
The number of deaths tied to the virus was 553, compared to 550 Monday, Riverside University Health System officials said.
According to Saruwatari, there have been notable "shifts" in infections impacting different age groups. One was the 18- to 39 year-old group, which in May comprised 36 percent of both symptomatic and asymptomatic diagnoses. Saruwatari said the group made up 47 percent of cases in June.
"The shift to a younger age group is concerning to us," she said, urging all residents to take precautions to safeguard against exposure.
Saruwaturi said the doubling time — or the number of days in which documented virus cases increase 100 percent — is at 23.7 days. A doubling rate of seven days is considered severe.
The number of people hospitalized for coronavirus in Riverside County increased by 25 on Tuesday to 536, and the latest data show the county is now at 68.7 percent hospital bed capacity and 98.2 percent ICU bed capacity.
Of the 536 patients, 136 are in ICU.
Six patients from Imperial County and six prison inmates are among the COVID-19 hospitalizations in Riverside County.
COVID-19 patients in the county's 17 hospitals account for 14.4 percent of the beds, according to Emergency Management Department figures dated July 13.
But the percentages show the aggregate picture in Riverside County, which differs from hospital to hospital. A federal team is arriving Thursday at Eisenhower Health hospital in Rancho Mirage to support medical staff there manage a high patient load. The hospital is nearing capacity in its ICU and COVID-19 units, according to Alan Williamson, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Eisenhower Health.
The active military medical personnel team comprised of doctors, physician assistants, critical care nurses and respiratory technicians is part of a California request for federal support, according to county officials.
“Currently, we only have three more 'staffed' beds available in the ICU. Additionally, we are approaching 80 percent of bed capacity within the hospital, but are at virtually 100 percent of our staffing capacity. We are grateful for the support from FEMA and its Air Force Medical response team. It comes at a critical time,” Williamson said.
“The federal support will provide much-needed assistance to Eisenhower at a time when the entire medical system deals with the rise in coronavirus cases,” said Bruce Barton, director of the County of Riverside Emergency Management Department. “That assistance will make a difference for those who are being impacted by this virus that has taken so many lives.”
Federal medical teams are also assisting other California counties.
Related COVID-19 news in Riverside County:
—Riverside County could receive up to 500 of the 8,000 inmates due to be released early from state prisons, the county's chief probation officer told the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. The release of eligible inmates is being done to slow coronavirus spread inside California prisons, but the "surge" of additional parolees in Riverside County will be difficult to handle, Chief Ron Miller said. Read more here.
—On Tuesday clarification was provided regarding recreational sports in Riverside County. A July 9 letter from Riverside County Counsel Gregory P. Priamos said youth team sports are not allowed to resume in California amid coronavirus concerns, and the same goes for any team conditioning, practice or drills. The state confirmed Tuesday that adult recreational sports leagues are also banned from competing. In an email response, the state wrote, "Adult sports are currently not permitted. Adult recreational sports guidance will be forthcoming in the future."
—To help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Riverside County and 29 other "watch list" counties, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced an executive order directing that indoor activity be stopped at gyms, houses of worship, shopping malls, offices for non-essential sectors, as well as personal care services such as nail salons, hair salons, barbershops, body waxing and tattoo parlors. Indoor protests are also banned. Read more here.
—City News Service contributed to this report.
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