As Coronavirus Spreads In Calif., RivCo Manages To Stay Healthy

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Despite confirmed cases of coronavirus in nearby Los Angeles, and word this week that Orange County has two new presumptive positive cases of the illness, Riverside County is yet to have a confirmed case — and efforts are underway to keep it that way.

Amid concerns over COVID-19, or coronavirus, Riverside County officials Wednesday activated a joint operations center for day-to-day monitoring of the illness nationally and internationally, in a precautionary move that's intended to have "everything in place" should the virus become a more significant threat.

The Department Operations Center combines the resources of the Riverside University Health System-Public Health Agency and the county Emergency Management Department, employing designated personnel to keep track of developments and trends connected to the virus on an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule daily, according to RUHS spokesman Jose Arballo.

"The DOC will look at information as more cases come up," Arballo told City News Service. "We felt the need to better coordinate in case of a potential coronavirus introduction into Riverside County, which hasn't happened. But this is about being better prepared."

He said the DOC is geared to a specific purpose compared to the county's Emergency Operations Center, which typically goes into 24-hour staffing once it's activated, using a wide cross-section of resources from a variety of agencies. The EOC is regularly opened during large-scale wildfires, storms and other damaging events.

"The DOC is smart policy. It allows us to be ready in case the situation warrants," Arballo said. "By having everything in place now, we can react if the situation gets worse. It would be more difficult if we didn't have everything in place."

Arballo acknowledged that county Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser has expressed the belief that the common flu poses a greater threat to residents than the coronavirus ever will, but "if conditions change, we can ramp up at a moment's notice," thanks to the DOC.

"When it comes to numbers and people affected, influenza is still of (greater) concern," the RUHS spokesman told CNS.

According to the most recent figures, five people have died countywide from flu-related complications over the last five months, while just over 60 have been hospitalized.

The coronavirus has claimed one life in California — a senior who had been on a cruise to Mexico and returned to Placer County — the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention said Wednesday. That fatality brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 11 in the nation, officials said.

Worldwide, the virus has claimed about 3,200 lives, mostly in China, where it originated, according to the World Health Organization. Almost 100,000 infections have been documented, with the vast majority in China. South Korea has the next highest number, at nearly 6,000, according to figures. Italy and Iran have each also recorded several thousand infections.

CDC's Message

Wednesday's announcement by Riverside County health officials follows a Tuesday briefing from the CDC in which the agency advised that local communities will likely start taking action.

"As more areas see community spread, local communities may start employing tools that encourage social distancing," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "The goal of social distancing is to limit exposure by reducing face-to-face contact and preventing spread among people in community settings.

"What these actions look like at the community level will vary depending on local conditions," Messonnier said. "What is appropriate for one community seeing local transmission won’t necessarily be appropriate for a community where no local transmission has occurred. People, communities, local and state governments should begin thinking about what this might look like for them and local action that might work best in their community to blunt the impact of this virus. There are a spectrum of actions that can reduce spread and impact. These are science-based and come from our play book on mitigating disease impact."

Spreading Words, Not Disease

Despite having 195 U.S. State Department employees and their loved ones quarantined for two weeks at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County for possible coronavirus exposure in China, the county has escaped infection and officials are eager to see the good health continue.

The county's top public health official will make a rare trip to the Coachella Valley Thursday in an effort to quell public fears about the spread of coronavirus.

Dr. Kaiser will join Palm Springs Major Geoff Kors and county Supervisor V. Manuel Perez for a news conference on the steps of Palm Springs City Hall beginning at 10 a.m.

Also expected to attend will be public safety, business, school district and tourism representatives.

The news conference is aimed at updating residents on the "proactive measures being taken to prevent coronavirus in order to stay healthy during the busy Coachella Valley tourist season," according to statement from the city.

There is currently no vaccine to avoid COVID-19, but county health officials and local cities have repeatedly pointed to the CDC's common-sense disease prevention tips:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

—City News Service contributed to this report.