Remembering Riverside County Residents Who Died From COVID-19

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — As 2020 closes, health officials are remembering the lives lost during the coronavirus pandemic and reminding residents that, collectively, everyone contributes to slowing the spread of the virus.

Coronavirus caused or contributed to the deaths of hundreds of Riverside County residents in 2020, including two children under the age of 18, the county reported.

The first coronavirus-related death in Riverside County was reported March 15 — an Indio resident in his late 70s. The two youngest deaths include a 12-year-old from Western Riverside County and a 15-year-old from Central Riverside County. The oldest deaths were found in three 104-year-old Riverside County residents, including a man from Corona, a man from Riverside and a woman from Mecca.

Four county employees died from the virus in 2020, including two deputies, one probation officer and one engineer.

“This disease doesn’t discriminate. We’ve seen deaths in the young and old. We’ve seen couples, family members and healthcare workers die from this disease,” said Kim Saruwatari, director of the Riverside University Health System-Public Health. “These deaths, combined with mental health impacts and economic losses, are painful reminders of how this disease has cost all of us.”

After nine months of the pandemic, the county reported Thursday there were 1,985 deaths stemming from COVID-19. Figures typically trail because of delays processing death certificates, so the official 2020 COVID-19 death toll will likely go higher.

Deaths among racial and ethnic minorities have been disproportionately higher, including among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Latino, Black and African American residents.

“Our hearts are with families, friends and neighbors who are grieving the loss of an important and special person in their lives,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “After a year of tragedy and hardship, we have hope for a better 2021. We remember and honor all Riverside County residents who have passed away from coronavirus this year, and thank all the front line workers and all who are doing their part to help overcome this pandemic.”

"Taking simple actions like wearing a mask, stop gathering with others outside the household and getting the vaccine will protect yourself and others from the virus," the county said in a news release.

On Thursday, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases was reported at 180,553 in Riverside County, with 118,836 recoveries.

As the year closes, Riverside County is experiencing a surge of cases requiring hospitalization and intensive care unit treatment. COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization numbered 1,464 Thursday, of which 296 patients were in ICU. The test positivity rate in Riverside County was at 22.6 percent and the daily case rate was 140.5 new cases per 100,000 residents.