RivCo Reports Another Drop In Coronavirus Hospitalizations

RIVERSIDE, CA — Since the public health documentation period began in March 2020, the aggregate number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Riverside County stands at 293,831, with a total 4,248 deaths, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The agency does not release updated coronavirus statistics on the weekend.

On Friday, the number of coronavirus patients in Riverside County hospitals dipped, although the number in intensive care units rose slightly, according to health officials, who also reported 34 newly logged virus-related deaths and 124 new cases, RUHS said.

COVID-positive patients in hospitals countywide numbered 136 on Friday, down seven from Thursday. That figure includes 33 ICU patients, one more than the day before.

The number of known active virus cases countywide was 3,203 as of Friday, down 16 from Thursday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total -- 293,831 -- according to the county Executive Office.

Meanwhile, RUHS officials urged residents to combat "vaccine hesitancy."

During a news conference Friday, county Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung discussed "vaccine hesitancy" while urging residents to do their part to convince those around them to get inoculated.

"This means that if you have a loved one, a family member, a friend, a colleague, who you know currently qualifies under one of the qualifying categories but who hasn't received the vaccine, we would encourage you to make every effort to convince those people to do that," Leung said.

"When one person gets the vaccine, it actually increases the likelihood that those people in their immediate social circle, as well as their secondary social circle, will be vaccinated."

Leung urged residents to get inoculated quickly, noting that the world is in a race toward herd immunity in order to stave off the possibility of the virus continuing to mutate, which could make it less susceptible to vaccines on the market.

He said roughly 25% of all Riverside County residents have received at least one vaccine shot so far, mirroring national trends.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that, beginning April 1, vaccination eligibility will be expanded to include everyone 50 years and older, stemming from an anticipated increase in SAR-Cov-2 immunization doses. After April 15, residents statewide who are 16 years and over will be eligible to make appointments.

In Riverside County, vaccination of seniors continues to be a priority, but others who qualify under the present CDPH guidelines include utility workers, public transit workers, disaster preparedness workers, first responders, food service workers, teachers and some agricultural workers. Those with pre-existing disorders or who are permanently disabled may also obtain shots from their health care providers.

The portal to make an appointment for vaccination at county-run and other sites can be accessed via www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine. Anyone who needs assistance may also call the county's 211 help line.

The county's coronavirus positivity rate was is 2.7% Friday, down from 3.3%, the previous week, a six-month low. Back in January, the positivity rate was upwards of 25%.

The regulatory bar was lowered on March 16, when the county was moved into the red tier of the state's reopening framework. The county had been in the most restrictive purple tier since mid-October.

Under the red tier classification, indoor operations are permitted in restaurants and movie theaters, limited to 25% capacity, or 100 people, whichever is less. Museums, zoos and aquariums also have a greenlight for up to 25% capacity, while gyms and fitness centers have a 10% capacity cap.

Retail stores and shopping malls are able to operate at 50% capacity, under California Department of Public Health guidelines.

Public schools are also eligible to open for in-person instruction, provided they have established safety protocols in place. Many school districts have opted for hybrid models, with part in-class instruction and part remote learning.

The revised qualifier for red tier status was an average daily infection rate of 10 per 100,000 residents. The county is at a state-adjusted level of 4.8 per 100,000, compared to 6.1 per 100,000 a week ago. Health officials said if current metrics and trends hold, the county may be eligible to move into the orange tier before the end of April.

—City News Service