Live Blog: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rise Over Weekend In Riverside County – KPBS

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COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rise Over Weekend In Riverside County

6:17 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, 2020

The number of coronavirus infections confirmed in Riverside County increased by 1,668 over the weekend, with seven additional deaths stemming from virus complications, amid a general statewide upswing in COVID cases that prompted the governor Monday to announce a tightening of economic restrictions.

"California is experiencing the fastest increase in cases we have seen yet -- faster than what we experienced at the outset of the pandemic or even this summer," Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "The spread of COVID-19, if left unchecked, could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes."

He said he has applied an "emergency brake" on the color-coded Blueprint for a Safer Economy, which entails a four-stage tier structure to lower the regulatory bar and allow economic sectors to reopen.

The county is already in the lowest tier, "purple," impacting offices, gyms, restaurants, movie theaters and places of worship.

The Board of Supervisors will discuss the governor's action during its meeting Tuesday. City News Service

WATCH: San Diego Businesses Hold Rally Downtown Against New COVID-19 Restrictions

3:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, 2020

Supervisor Jim Desmond holds a rally outside of the County Administration Building to urge the Board of Supervisors and Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow San Diego County businesses to remain open despite the state-mandated restrictions brought on by the purple tier.

San Diego Reports 6th Consecutive Day Of 600-Plus New Coronavirus Cases

2 38 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, 2020

San Diego County health officials reported another huge jump in COVID-19 cases 833 but no additional deaths Monday, bringing the county's total to 65,501 cases, with the death toll remaining at 926.

Monday was the sixth consecutive day that more than 600 new coronavirus cases were reported by the county. The 833 cases reported Monday are the second most the county has announced in a single day during the pandemic, following a record high of 1,087 reported Sunday and a then-record 736 Saturday.

On Wednesday, a then-record 661 cases were reported in the county surpassing the 652 cases reported Aug. 7. Another 620 cases were reported Thursday.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced Monday that 55 of 70 inmates in the 1C module of the George Bailey Detention Facility had tested positive for COVID-19.

Newsom Pulls 'Emergency Brake' On State's Reopening Plan As Virus Cases Surge

2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, 2020

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was pulling the emergency brake Monday on the state's efforts to reopen its economy as coronavirus cases surge more dramatically than they did during a summer spike.

We are sounding the alarm, Newsom said in a statement. California is experiencing the fastest increase in cases we have seen yet faster than what we experienced at the outset of the pandemic or even this summer. The spread of COVID-19, if left unchecked, could quickly overwhelm our health care system and lead to catastrophic outcomes."

The action that Newsom called the emergency brake in the Blueprint for a Safer Economy will impose more restrictions on businesses across most of the state. He said masks would now be required outside homes with limited exceptions.

The troubling rise in cases in November has come at a faster pace than a spike in mid-June and could quickly surpass the peak of the hospitalizations at the time, health officials have said. The state became the second in the U.S. last week to surpass 1 million case of the virus as the U.S. has now recorded more than 11 million cases.

The new rules are certain to rankle business owners such as restaurateurs and gym owners who have been struggling to get back on their feet after lengthy shutdowns followed by reopenings that have at times been curtailed as cases have risen. Associated Press

SD County Reports Record Of 1,087 New COVID-19 Cases

5:36 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020

San Diego County health officials have reported a huge jump in COVID-19 cases a record 1,087 and no additional deaths, bringing the county's totals to 64,768 cases and the death toll remaining at 926.

Sunday was the fifth-consecutive day that more than 600 new coronavirus cases were reported by the county.

On Saturday, the county set a record of 736 new cases. On Wednesday, a record 661 cases were reported in the county surpassing the 652 cases reported Aug. 7. Another 620 cases were reported Thursday.

"We have not seen cases this high in months, and it's a clear indication that COVID-19 is widespread," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. City News Service

SD County Reports Record 736 New COVID-19 Cases, Five More Deaths

5:36 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

San Diego County health officials have reported a record 736 new COVID-19 cases Saturday and five more deaths as nonessential businesses moved to outdoor-only when the county went from the red to the purple tier of the state's four-tiered coronavirus reopening plan.

The data increases the total caseload since the start of the pandemic to 63,681, with the death toll rising to 926. This is the fourth consecutive day that more than 600 new coronavirus cases were reported by the county.

On Wednesday, a record 661 COVID-19 cases were reported in the county surpassing the 652 cases reported Aug. 7. Another 620 cases were reported Thursday.

"We have not seen cases this high in months, and it's a clear indication that COVID-19 is widespread," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"These totals also show people are not following the public health recommendations that we know work to prevent getting and passing COVID-19."

Wooten added that in the weeks following Halloween, this record case jump is a warning sign people "need to follow public health guidance throughout the upcoming holiday season."

This comes as state data has landed the county in the most restrictive tier of the state's COVID-19 reopening plan. The restrictions associated with the purple tier went into effect just after midnight Saturday. City News Service

U.S. Adds 184,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day, With No End In Sight

4:01 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020

The U.S. added more than 184,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, the fourth day in a row that the country has set a record for daily infections, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

It has been about four weeks since the U.S. overtook India to see the most daily cases of any country in the world. While India's case numbers spiked in September, they have largely been on a downward path since then. But cases in the U.S. continue to surge. For the first time, the country's seven-day moving average of new cases has surpassed 150,000.

America is also the world leader in coronavirus fatalities, with over 244,000 COVID-19 related deaths. More than 1,400 people died from the virus in the U.S. on Friday the most deaths that day of any country.

For the moment, daily deaths are below the peak of around 2,200 daily fatalities the U.S. saw in April. But deaths are known to lag behind rising infection rates, as it often takes several weeks for the virus to become fatal. Matthew S. Schwartz, NPR

San Diego Has Third Straight Day Of 600-Plus New COVID-19 Cases

5:35 p.m, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020

San Diego County health officials reported an additional 611 COVID-19 cases and three more deaths Friday as nonessential businesses prepare for another closure at midnight as the county prepares to enter the purple tier of the state's four-tiered coronavirus reopening plan.

The data increases the total caseload since the start of the pandemic to 62,945, with the death toll rising to 921. This is the third consecutive day that more than 600 new coronavirus cases were reported by the county.

On Wednesday, a record 661 COVID-19 cases were reported in the county surpassing the 652 cases reported Aug. 7. Another 620 cases were reported Thursday.

"We have not seen cases this high in months, and it's a clear indication that COVID-19 is widespread," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"These totals also show people are not following the public health recommendations that we know work to prevent getting and passing COVID-19."

Wooten added that in the weeks following Halloween, this record case jump is a warning sign people "need to follow public health guidance throughout the upcoming holiday season." City News Service

Local Restaurants, Gyms, Sue County And State Over COVID-19 Shutdowns

3:21 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020

Four local restaurants and gyms are suing the state and county over its coronavirus restrictions as a shutdown of indoor operations looms for many county businesses.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in San Diego Superior Court on behalf of Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop, Home & Away Encinitas, Fit Athletic Club and Bear Republic.

The suit comes as San Diego County is slated to shut down indoor operations for nonessential businesses at midnight due to its recent entry into the most restrictive, purple tier of the state's coronavirus reopening plan.

The businesses allege that San Diego's increased case numbers are not a result of exposures at restaurants, gyms and other types of businesses that will be impacted by the impending closures. The lawsuit cites recent figures indicating restaurants/bars, retail businesses, places of worship, schools and gyms make up a small percentage of confirmed community outbreaks. City News Service

Newsom Says He Should Not Have Attended Dinner Party

3:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he should not have attended a birthday dinner for a dozen people at the posh French Laundry restaurant last week, saying that he should have set a better example for a virus-fatigued state that is seeing steep increases in coronavirus cases.

Newsom, who has pleaded with residents to avoid social gatherings that mix households, said in a statement Friday that while our family followed the restaurants health protocols and took safety precautions, we should have modeled better behavior and not joined the dinner.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday of the Nov. 6 dinner to celebrate the 50th birthday of Newsom's longtime friend and political adviser Jason Kinney. The outdoor dinner at The French Laundry in Yountville in Napa County brought together 12 people, including the governor and his wife.

State guidelines limit gatherings, defined as social situations that bring together people from different households at the same time in a single space or place, to no more than three households. It's unclear if the rule applies to restaurants, however, which follow different guidance.

The California Republican Party said in a tweet that the governor seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth. Associated Press

Live Blog: WATCH: California Health And Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly Gives Update On COVID-19 In California

12:00 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020

California, Oregon, Washington Issue Virus Travel Advisories

11:45 a.m., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020

The governors of California, Oregon and Washington issued travel advisories Friday urging people entering their states or returning from outside the states to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the coronavirus, California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said.

The advisories urge people to avoid non-essential out-of-state travel, ask people to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country and encourage residents to stay local, a statement said.

California just surpassed a sobering threshold one million COVID-19 cases with no signs of the virus slowing down, Newsom wrote. Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of seniors, essential workers and vulnerable Californians." Associated Press

SD County Reports Additional 1,281 COVID-19 Cases Over Two-Day Period

11:43 a.m., Friday, Nov. 13, 2020

San Diego County health officials have reported an additional 620 COVID-19 cases and three more deaths, increasing the total caseload since the start of the pandemic to 62,334, with the death toll rising to 918.

On Tuesday, a record 661 COVID-19 cases were reported in the county surpassing the 652 cases reported Aug. 7.

"We have not seen cases this high in months and it's a clear indication that COVID-19 is widespread," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer.

"These totals also show people are not following the public health recommendations that we know work to prevent getting and passing COVID-19."

Wooten added that in the weeks following Halloween, this record case jump is a warning sign people "need to follow public health guidance throughout the upcoming holiday season."

This comes as state data has landed the county in the most restrictive tier of the state's COVID-19 reopening plan. The restrictions associated with the purple tier will go into place just after midnight tonight, Wooten said. City News Service

Escondido's Pioneer Elementary Suspends On-Campus Activities After 3 COVID-19 Cases

6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020

All on-campus activities, including in-person classes, at Pioneer Elementary School were suspended after three people tested positive for the coronavirus, the Escondido Union School District (EUSD) announced Thursday.

The district said the cases were separate, unrelated to each other and happened off-campus. The temporary suspension was done out of an abundance of caution and will last through Nov. 30.

We understand that an interruption of on-campus activities causes a huge disruption to our families and staff. But this action is necessary to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community, EUSD superintendent Luis Rankins-Ibarra said. The safety and security of our students and staff continue to be at the forefront of all decisions.

The distribution of free, to-go meals, however, will continue, the district said.

To date, there have been 17 COVID-19 cases at EUSD impacting nine campuses, resulting in 165 students and 33 staffers being quarantined. Alexander Nguyen, KPBS News

California Surpasses 1 Million Coronavirus Cases Mark

4:05 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020

California has become the second state to record 1 million confirmed coronavirus infections. Texas reached the mark earlier this week.

Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University showed Thursday that California surpassed the grim milestone. It comes nearly 10 months after the first cases were confirmed in the most populous state.

California was the first in the nation to implement a statewide stay-at-home order on its nearly 40 million residents in March.

After spiking in the summer, the rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases in California declined markedly into the fall but now is surging again, like much of the nation. This week, 11 counties had rates high enough that state restrictions were reimposed on certain businesses and activities. Associated Press

San Diego Courts Not Closing Despite Countys Purple Tier Status

1:40 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020

San Diego County's recent dip into the most restrictive tier of the state's coronavirus reopening plan will not lead to additional court closures or changes to local court operations, the San Diego Superior Court announced Thursday.

Rising case rates led the state to place San Diego County into the purple tier of the reopening plan, meaning indoor operations will cease at many nonessential businesses starting Saturday.

While court operations were initially put on hold at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, court officials said its essential status will not lead to further modifications even with this latest development. Precautions such as temperature screenings, increased cleaning, social distancing and facial covering requirements remain in place. City News Service

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Live Blog: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Rise Over Weekend In Riverside County - KPBS