COVID-19 Vaccination Sites Expand, Update In Riverside County

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — More COVID-19 vaccination sites are opening in Riverside County, and one site will offer expanded testing, it was announced Monday.

The updated clinics take effect this week. They are:

— Three OptumServe vaccine sites will open Wednesday: Norco (1377 Hamner Ave.), Temecula (39716 Winchester Road), and Desert Hot Springs (11711 West Drive).
— The vaccine site at the Lake Elsinore Stadium, which previously operated two days a week, will be expanded to Thursday through Monday. The site will be operated by Curative.
— The Indio Fairgrounds vaccine site will convert from a county-run site to a Curative-run location.
— The Corona High School vaccine site will close Friday (March 5); the staff from the location will be assigned to a new vaccine clinic in Moreno Valley. The location of the Moreno Valley clinic will be announced soon. Those who received their first dose at Corona High School will be notified when and where to receive their second dose.
— The Perris Fairgrounds site, which provided vaccine two days a week, will be converted to a COVID-19 testing site and be opened seven days a week. This change will take effect Tuesday (March 2).

“The changes that are planned will help provide vaccines in locations where they are needed and give greater access to residents in those communities,” said Kim Saruwatari, director of Public Health.

To make an appointment at a county-run clinic, or those operated by Curative or OptumServe in Riverside County, click www.rivcoph.org/covid-19-vaccine. Appointment links to the new clinics will be posted to the website as soon as they are available.

Coronavirus stats for Monday

Coronavirus hospitalizations in Riverside County dropped 15 percent over the weekend, though an additional 25 virus-related deaths were also reported, according to figures released Monday.

The total number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the public health documentation period began last March is 289,773, up 323 from Friday, according to the Riverside University Health System.

Riverside County health officials do not provide updated coronavirus statistics on weekends.

Officials said there have been a total of 3,792 COVID-19 deaths over the past year.

COVID-positive hospitalizations countywide totaled 307 on Monday, down 54 from Friday. That figure includes 83 patients in intensive care units, or 13 fewer than Friday.