RivCo. COVID-19 Hospitalizations Drop Nearly 15% To 1 Year Low

RIVERSIDE, CA — Since March 2020, when the coronavirus public health documentation period began, Riverside County has reported 296,090 cases and 4,481 fatalities.

COVID-positive hospitalizations have dropped nearly 15% to a one-year low, according to the Riverside University Health System.

The agency does not provide updated COVID-19 statistics on the weekend.

On Friday, the RUHS reported another 194 COVID-19 infections, and 26 additional virus-related deaths.

There were 89 coronavirus patients being treated in hospitals countywide on Friday, down 15 from Thursday. RUHS said that number included 23 intensive care unit patients, unchanged from a day earlier.

The number of known active virus cases countywide was 2,211 Friday, a dozen more than Thursday. The active count is derived by subtracting deaths and recoveries from the current total -- 296,090 -- according to the county Executive Office.

The coronavirus positivity rate countywide was 2%, compared to 2.3% last week. The state-adjusted case rate is 3.5 per 100,000 people, which reflects a rolling seven-day average. It was 4.1 per 100,000 the previous week.

Meanwhile, more county businesses were able to open Wednesday amid lighter restrictions due to the county entering the orange tier of the state's public health regulatory system. The county had been in the red tier of the "Blueprint for a Safer Economy" framework since March 16, after five months in the most restrictive purple tier.

According to the California Department of Public Health, orange criteria permit retail businesses to fully open, while 50% attendance caps are supposed to be observed in restaurants, museums, movie theaters and zoos. The guidelines call for gyms, wineries and bars to maintain 25% caps.

Beginning April 15, receptions and conferences can be held with up to 150 attendees, on the condition that they, at minimum, be tested for coronavirus.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the target date for an end to all restrictions on businesses, gatherings and recreation throughout the state is June 15 -- provided there are no signs of a backward slide.

The county's metrics are squarely in the orange qualifier, but still just outside the parameters set for yellow tier status, which represents "minimal" presence of the virus.

Last week, the CDPH lowered vaccination eligibility to anyone 50 and up. Beginning Tuesday, residents as young as 16 years old were eligible for immunization at four county health clinics.

Only the Pfizer vaccine is available to 16-year-olds, who must have a parent or guardian provide consent for a shot.

The eligibility threshold to include everyone as young as 16 was supposed to occur statewide on April 15. Executive Office spokeswoman Brooke Federico told City News Service that because the county is now well stocked on vaccines and fewer people are making appointments at clinics, the decision was made to move forward with adjusting the eligibility criteria.

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.

—City News Service