UKCOVID-19 variant detected in Riverside County

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Riverside County reported 643 new cases of COVID-19 and 40 additional deaths on Wednesday, and health officials were also the first to discover the first COVID-19 mutant B.1.1.7 in the UK. A local case was confirmed.

The incident was reported to Riverside County health officials over the weekend, according to county executive spokeswoman Brooke Federico. She did not identify the area where the incident occurred.

“It was inevitable that this strain would be found in Riverside County. We will probably see other strains in our large population,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, County Public Health Officer. .. “But that doesn’t change people’s need to take precautions with facial coverings, social distance, and good hygiene. It works for other things, and it works for this too.”

B.1.1.7 is considered to be more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19, but it is not necessarily fatal.

According to the Riverside University Health System, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic began in Riverside County in early March is currently 284,168.

According to RUHS data, the number of virus-related deaths is 3,454. Death certificates are a follow-up indicator because of the delayed processing of death certificates, covering a period of 3 to 4 weeks.

The number of known active virus cases throughout the county is 39,066, less than 2,909. According to the county administration, the active count is calculated by subtracting death and recovery from the current total (284,168). Patient recovery confirmed throughout the county is 241,648.

Coronavirus-positive hospitalizations continue to decline, with 726 patients currently being treated for virus-related complications across the county, 29 fewer than Tuesday. This figure includes the same 193 patients in the intensive care unit as on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, health officials announced Tuesday that changes in the state’s dispensing program would increase the supply of coronavirus vaccines in Riverside County.

Public Health Service Director Kim Salwatari told the Supervisory Board on Tuesday that Blue Shield had reached an agreement with the California Public Health Service to coordinate distribution activities throughout the state, including Riverside County. No switching schedule is specified.

Dr. Jeffrey Leon, a spokesman for Salwatari and RUHS, said determining the CDPH for shipping Pfizer and Moderna SARS-Cov-2 doses has created difficulties. According to Salwatari, the size of shipments is based on the population of health care workers, not the actual eligible population.

“Our supply is limited and unpredictable,” Leung told the board. “We run weekly. Sometimes we have more Pfizer, sometimes we have more moderna.”

According to Leung, more than 200,000 inhabitants receive the initial dose. However, there was ongoing concern about completing the double vaccination process, which caused anxiety among recipients. Many recipients do not have a schedule for when they can get a second dose, which may be within 3-6 doses. Week of the first one.

“We are doing our best to keep improving,” he said.

The Palm Springs Convention Center will be available as a vaccination clinic later this week, and Leon said there are plans for a mobile vaccination clinic to reach remote areas.

Bruce Burton, director of emergency management, said ICU availability across the county remains at 0%, along with the Southern California region of the 11 counties.

The county prioritizes vaccination of older people, but others eligible under the CDPH Phase 1 guidelines include hospital workers, first responders, teachers, and some agricultural workers. included.

The portal for making vaccination reservations is www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine.. If you need help, you can also call the county’s 211 helpline.

The state-wide COVID-19 test positive rate was 14.4%, down from 16.6% last week based on state-adjusted figures.

The county remains in the most restrictive purple layer of the governor’s blueprint for a safer economic framework, affecting bars, theaters, museums, indoor recreational facilities and wineries. All of these are believed to remain closed. However, wineries such as restaurants can offer outdoor dining, takeaway, and delivery.

Most retailers are limited to 25% of capacity, but hair salons, nail salons and hairdressers can operate with safeguards.

UKCOVID-19 variant detected in Riverside County Last changed: February 10, 2021 Along Contribution Editor

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