The number of COVID-19 infections continues to climb in Riverside County, with an additional 458 known active cases and 17 deaths countywide, but an official told the Board of Supervisors that the county’s hospitals are generally equipped to handle any potential surge in coronavirus cases.
“Several hospitals have implemented surge plans,” Emergency Management Director Bruce Barton told the board Tuesday. “And each hospital has committed to capacity that’s 30% to 35% beyond their licensed capacity.”
Barton and other public health officials addressed the recent rapid growth in documented COVID-19 cases, saying the numbers were adding to burdens on the 17 hospitals within the county, but none were out of beds for virus patients and others in need of medical care.
Newly released county Department of Public Health data showed the total number of known active infections stands at 8,985, compared to 8,527 on Monday. The number of individuals who have died from complications tied to the virus is now 457, compared to 440 confirmed deaths reported Monday.
The number of documented patient recoveries is 7,854, but Supervisor Chuck Washington observed that the number of recoveries “is likely higher.”
“You’ve got people out there who never knew they were infected and have recovered,” he said.
The documentation period begins in early March and goes to the present.
According to Department of Public Health Director Kim Saruwatari, the county’s positivity rate for COVID-19 screening is running close to 12%, while the state’s preferred benchmark is 8%. She said the infection rate translates to 202 per 100,000 residents.
Saruwatari told the board that the “doubling rate” — when the number of COVID-19 cases increases 100% over a given period — is at 27 days. The metric is considered a key indicator of moderation or intensification of viral spread. It is in the severe category when the doubling rate is seven days.
According to Barton, the hospital bed usage rate countywide has been between 61% and 68% in recent days, while the intensive care unit bed usage has been between 95% and 99%. But Barton reiterated that most hospitals have the ability to quickly add bed space beyond their licensed capacities.
He said during the 2017 flu pandemic that hit the county and other parts of the state and country, some local hospitals were operating in excess of their licensed capacities by 30%.
The EMD director said only about one quarter of the ICU beds countywide were currently needed for COVID-19 patients, numbering 109 who require intensive care. The rest were being utilized by stroke, lung and other patients.
On Monday, the county Public Health Officer, Dr. Cameron Kaiser, ordered that all bars in the county close their doors based on a recommendation — not a mandate — from the California Department of Public Health concerning potentially higher COVID-19 exposure risks. Bars were permitted to reopen on June 12 after being closed for nearly three months after the pandemic began in March.
Kaiser did not offer the board specific data confirming that area bars were a source of increased viral transmission, saying only “they are difficult locations to control COVID-19.”
“After they opened on June 12, cases started to climb,” he said.
Kaiser also said the recent demonstrations calling for law enforcement reform in Riverside County and elsewhere were likely hotbeds for viral contact. He warned that stern measures would be imposed to prevent bars from conducting business.
California Department of Public Health guidance released over the weekend states that “public health professionals within California and throughout the nation have identified bars as the highest risk sector of non- essential businesses currently open.”
According to the county health order, restaurants and breweries that offer dine-in services may remain in operation and continue to serve alcoholic beverages, but those must be part of the overall transaction, with meals.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Sunday mandating bar closures in seven counties, including Imperial County to the south.
The governor last week ordered all California residents to wear face coverings in most settings outside their homes to help slow the spread of the virus.
Riverside County had previously rescinded its mask mandate, and the county was advancing into stage 3 of the governor’s four-stage public health de-regulation plan. But with COVID-19 cases spiking, and the renewed restrictions announced, that process may now be on hold.