795 New Coronavirus Cases Reported Over Weekend: Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County health officials released data Monday that showed 795 newly confirmed coronavirus cases and one additional fatality were reported over the two-day weekend, bringing the countywide totals to 11,285 cases and 384 deaths.

The Riverside University Health System said 382 of the weekend's cases were confirmed on Sunday, marking the second-largest one-day total since the first locally acquired coronavirus case was reported on March 8. The largest one-day uptick — 384 cases — was reported last Tuesday.

Last week officials warned that a COVID-19 outbreak at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in eastern Riverside County was partially contributing to the county's increased caseload. However, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported that the number of prisoners actively infected with the virus decreased over the weekend from 991 on Friday to 989 Monday. The prison is the site of the California prison system's largest coronavirus outbreak to date. One coronavirus-related prisoner death has been reported at the facility.

"We forecasted sporadic outbreaks through the summer, and those forecasts so far are coming true," Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County health officer, said last week. "It's time to think about what the fall will bring, and those initial estimates aren't good. If we're not observing social distancing and facial coverings — two things that helped before and are helping now — we're going to lose the progress we've made."

Other numbers released Monday by the county show 228 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, 10 fewer than Friday. The number includes 70 patients being treated in intensive care units, unchanged from Friday.

The county has documented 204 recoveries since Friday, bringing the total to 6,100, and the number of residents tested for the virus stands at 156,748, about 5% of the population countywide.

After nearly three months, a number of Riverside County and city facilities that were shuttered or placed under limited schedules amid the coronavirus emergency reopened for regular business on Monday.

According to county officials, all people entering county facilities will be asked whether they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and may be asked to leave if they are. Visitors will also be encouraged to wear face coverings, though they will not be denied access if they choose to do otherwise.

The county, as a whole, meanwhile, has moved forward under the state's four-stage public health reopening plan, permitting more sectors to resume operations following Gov. Gavin Newsom's March 19 shutdowns for COVID-19 mitigation.

Motels, gyms, bars, museums, theaters and wineries were among the entities given the green light to reopen under public health guidelines that encourage social distancing, caps on the size of gatherings and repetitive sanitation of spaces.

"We have long looked forward to reopening more Riverside County businesses, which provide valuable goods, services and jobs vital to the fabric of our economy," county Supervisor Karen Spiegel said late last week. "It's very important that while visiting these businesses, all residents continue to do their part to slow the spread of the disease by wearing face coverings and maintaining six feet from others."

Personal care businesses, including nail salons, as well as sporting venues and libraries, are still prohibited from resuming operations. However, day camps for children were among the facilities given the approval to reopen.

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