Roadmap To Reopening The Economy Outlined: Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan Tuesday to gradually restart public life in California amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Riverside County released its updated COVID-19 figures.

As of Tuesday, 3,735 county residents have tested positive for the virus, according to Riverside University Health System-Public Health. The caseload represents an uptick of 92 people over Monday's figure. No new deaths were reported, leaving the number standing at 141 — a welcome respite after Monday's sharp increase. Tests conducted was reported at 45,417 countywide; 1,303 patients have recovered, while 220 are hospitalized — 73 of them in ICU.

During Newsom's Tuesday news briefing, the governor said statewide data show the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions has stabilized, which is why California is looking to begin a slow, gradual reopening of the economy.

Riverside County residents — through social distancing behaviors — have also flattened the local COVID-19 curve, but it remains to be seen how the county's public health officer, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, will implement Newsom's reopening plan. Kaiser can issue stricter orders than those imposed by the governor— due to local public health concerns — but he cannot ease them ahead of the state.

California will likely begin reopening some businesses in coming weeks under what Newsom called "Phase 2" of the state's economic recovery. The governor did not provide a Phase 2 timeline but said the state was "weeks, not months, away from making meaningful modifications" to his existing "stay-home" order, assuming social distancing continues.

Easing of restrictions under Phase 2 would take place in manufacturing, logistics and retail sectors that have been deemed non-essential under the current state order, the governor explained.

A plan for reopening schools and child care facilities is also part of the Phase 2 discussion. Newsom is targeting late July or early August to reopen schools and begin the 2020-21 academic year. The early start is an effort to make up for the "learning loss" taking place through the shutdown, the governor said.

Newsom cautioned though, "We're not going back to the way things were" until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.

The state is "months away" from reopening "higher risk" workplaces and venues as part of California's "Phase 3" reopening process, Newsom said. Beauty salons, barbershops, gyms, entertainment centers and in-person religious services fall into this category, according to the governor's plan.

The final "Phase 4" reopening is even further away, the governor said. Concerts, convention centers, and sporting events with audiences are part of this category.

Even the upcoming Phase 2 openings will not be business as usual, Newsom warned. For example, instead of opening a retail store for walk-customers, there may be curbside pickup instead. School classrooms will likely be configured differently to accommodate social distancing.

Dr. Sonia Angell, the state's public health officer, also spoke during Tuesday's news briefing. She said health officials know risk cannot be removed under any plan, but the point is to minimize it and ensure that if a future COVID-19 surge occurs, the health care system in California can accommodate increased hospitalizations.

"COVID-19 is not going away soon," she said.

Read more about Newsom's Tuesday news briefing here.

In other news Tuesday, Riverside County announced that residents who lost employment due to coronavirus shutdowns may receive up to $800 in additional job loss benefits. Read more here: RivCo Jobseekers May Be Eligible For Up To $800 In State Funding

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