Slowdown In RivCo COVID-19 Testing Tied To Ongoing Closures

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Even though Riverside County has seen a steep decline in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and new cases, the region still remains in the state's "purple tier" designation, indicating the virus is widespread.

But the county's purple tier assignment is also tied to a slowdown in the number of residents seeking coronavirus testing, which can prevent progressing into the "red tier" and opening up more business sectors.

“With the recent focus on coronavirus vaccination, it is not surprising the rate for COVID-19 testing among Riverside County residents has dropped significantly over the past few months,” said Riverside County Board of Supervisors Chair Karen Spiegel, Second District.

Riverside County’s state-evaluated metrics, as of Thursday morning, show a 7.6 percent positivity rate and 16.6 adjusted new cases per day for every 100,000 county residents.

The positivity rate meets the red tier range which is between 5 and 8 percent. The case rate needs to be between 4 and 7 per 100,000 residents to move to the red tier.

Riverside County’s case rate is also worsened by the upward adjustment for not reaching the statewide median of PCR swab tests, which is 386.4 per 100,000 population. Riverside County’s test rate, which was well above 800 per 100,000 population late last year, is now at 361.4 per 100,000 residents.

Based on the state’s criteria, if Riverside County tests at a higher rate than the statewide median, the adjusted case rate will be reduced instead of increased.

In other words, Riverside County currently meets one of the state’s metrics to move into the red tier, but both the red tier’s metrics for adjusted case rate and positivity rate must be met to progress forward.

Riverside County public health officials are reminding residents that getting tested for coronavirus helps slow the spread of the disease, and may also help meet the red tier metric for adjusted case rate.

“We want to keep moving forward in reopening and ask residents to continue to do their part by getting tested, wearing a mask and socially distance," Spiegel said.

PCR swab tests for active infections slow the spread of the disease by identifying infected individuals who can then be isolated as well as their close contacts. This process disrupts the virus and slows its spread, according to health officials.

“We’re not at the point where enough people are vaccinated to just stop testing,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer. “We’re getting shots to people as fast as we can, but until then we still have to break the cycle of transmission. We can’t do that without knowing if people are infected, and that means tests.”

Testing is free at a county or state-run site and available to anyone. There are also mobile teams that support testing in specific communities, businesses or organizations by testing for one or two days. There are several testing sites spread throughout Riverside County.

To find county and state-run locations and make an appointment, go online to gettested.ruhealth.org. For a list of other COVID-19 test sites in your area, click https://covid19.ca.gov/get-tested/.

COVID-positive hospitalizations in Riverside County fell below 400, while known active cases also continued to decline countywide, but an additional 42 virus-related deaths were reported Thursday.

According to the Riverside University Health System, coronavirus hospitalizations currently number 381, down from 406 Wednesday, and that includes 102 intensive care unit patients, 14 less than a day ago.

RUHS said the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the public health documentation period began in March is 289,185, 225 more than was reported the day before.

Officials said there have been a total 3,749 deaths from virus-related complications in the last 11 months, up from 3,707 on Wednesday.