Riverside County's New Coronavirus Cases Hit High, More Closures

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — On the same day that Gov. Gavin Newsom issued additional coronavirus-related mandates for Riverside and 18 other counties, the region saw it's biggest single-day surge of new COVID-19 cases.

According to Riverside University Health System-Public Health, 745 new cases of the virus were reported Wednesday in Riverside County, bringing the total number of infections to 18,041 since the county began reporting in March. The number of people who have recovered from the illness is 8,046.

The single-day increase is the largest to date.

Testing stands at 237,919 countywide. According to Health Director Kim Saruwatari, the county's positivity rate for COVID-19 screening is running close to 12%, while the state's preferred benchmark is 8%.

Six more people in Riverside County have died from the virus since Tuesday's reporting, bringing the total to 463 dead.

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients rose Wednesday to 417 countywide, an increase of 14 people since Tuesday. Eight more patients are reportedly in ICU, bringing that total to 117.

In an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, several business sectors in Riverside County have been mandated by Gov. Gavin Newsom to move their operations outdoors or shut down.

Restaurants, wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos and museums, and card rooms can remain open but cannot serve customers indoors, the governor announced Wednesday. For businesses that can't move services outside, they must temporarily close, according to the governor.

Casinos may ultimately be put on the list, but as of Wednesday they were not, Newsom said.

Bars are ordered closed even if they are operating outdoors. In Riverside County, bars were ordered closed this week by Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser.

For local residents wanting to hit the beach this holiday weekend, the governor said all state beach parking lots are closed. In Los Angeles and Ventura counties — where full beach closures are in place as ordered by county public health officials — the state is also completely shutting down its beaches there, Newsom said.

All the newly issued mandates are expected to remain in place for at least three weeks, the governor said.

Riverside is one of 19 counties statewide required to abide by the update because of the uptick in local COVID-19 community spread. The other counties include Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Merced, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Solano, Stanislaus, Tulare and Ventura.

Counties not on the above state watchlist do not have to follow Wednesday's mandate.

The governor announced that "strike teams" will enforce the mandate, but will give businesses an opportunity to first come into compliance.

"I'm not coming out with a fist," he said.

State agencies taking part in enforcement efforts include Alcohol Beverage Control, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, California Highway Patrol, Department of Business Oversight, and the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Newsom also encouraged residents to avoid gathering this July 4 weekend. Community spread of COVID-19 is on the rise among families who get together with other family members and friends outside their own household.

"Please do not take your guard down," he said.

Statewide, there's been a 51% percent increase in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since June 17, and a 47% increase in COVID-19 ICU admissions, according to the governor.

In Riverside County, residents are asked to celebrate the upcoming holiday without visitors because local health officials are concerned the Independence Day weekend could cause a greater COVID-19 spike if people don't adhere to safety guidelines.

“We don’t want any more closures, but our numbers are going through the roof,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer. “Bars are part of the problem but so are private gatherings. Please don’t mix households, even if you think everyone is healthy, and instead celebrate the holiday with the people you live with. We started seeing more and more cases after Memorial Day and we can’t afford another jump after the Fourth of July.”

On Monday, Kaiser ordered all bars in Riverside County closed, following a recommendation by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who issued a similar order for seven California counties. The governor was reacting to a recent surge in coronavirus cases statewide.

“This virus is very real, and we know it is spreading and growing,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Gatherings of family and friends are dangerous right now, and underserved communities are especially impacted by these gatherings.”