Local Riverside County News

Language barriers, wariness slow efforts to vaccinate immigrants in SoCal

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 04:46:42 +0000

Migrant workers lined up by the hundreds during a break from picking produce this week to receive the coronavirus vaccine on a Southern California grape farm.

The farmworkers who got their shots are among vulnerable immigrants in the United States — particularly the 11 million in the country illegally — who advocacy groups say may be some of the most difficult people to reach during the largest vaccination campaign in American history.

Some immigrants in the country illegally fear that information taken during vaccinations could be turned over to authorities and so may not seek out vaccines, while those who speak little or no English may find it difficult to access them. Like other groups, some are also hesitant about receiving a newly approved shot — and language barriers may also make it harder to get messages countering misinformation to them.

While these challenges may exist for many vulnerable immigrant groups, they are particularly worrying for Latino immigrants, who make a large portion of the workforce in industries where they have a significant risk of exposure.

“There is anxiety and it’s real ... but so is the fear of dying of COVID-19,” said Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

To tackle these challenges, groups that advocate for Latino immigrants are heading into farm fields to bring vaccines and information to migrant laborers and trying to counter misinformation in Spanish and other languages.

In California’s sprawling Riverside County, home to a $1.3 billion agriculture industry, the health care nonprofit that brought vaccines to the grape farm recently took tablets into the fields to register workers for vaccine appointments, said Conrado Bárzaga, CEO of Desert Healthcare District and Foundation. The organization also shares information about the virus and how to get tested for it on WhatsApp in Spanish and Purépecha, an indigenous language from western Mexico spoken by some farm workers in California.

The National Day Laborer Organizing Network has used a Spanish-language radio show on social media to share information throughout the pandemic about the virus. Now, the show’s hosts, many of them migrants and low-income workers themselves, plan to spend airtime debunking myths about the vaccine to their 300,000 weekly listeners, Alvarado said.

He believes countering misinformation on social media is key to overcoming most hesitancy about the vaccine — such as knocking down false claims that the vaccine would insert a microchip into people.

Daniel Cortés, a 58-year-old Mexican immigrant who lives in New York, is among those with doubts. He’s not authorized to live in the U.S. but any fears of deportation have nothing to do with it. He says he would not take the vaccine because he is healthy and fears a bad reaction. Trials for the vaccines being given in the U.S. involving tens of thousands of participants have so far surfaced no signs of serious side effects, and few unexpected adverse reactions have been reported in the early days of vaccine distribution in the country.

“I maintain social distancing, wash my hands, change my clothes when I get home," Cortés said, explaining that he thinks those precautions are enough. "I haven’t been sick in eight years and hopefully it will stay that way.”

President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion “American Rescue Plan” includes a program to set up community vaccination centers across the U.S. and use mobile clinics to access hard-to-reach communities. It has also said it would take steps to make the vaccine free to all U.S. residents independent of their immigration status.

But some advocacy groups say the legacy of the Trump administration's restrictive immigration policies will make reaching some immigrants especially tough.

In Florida, Maria Rodriguez, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition in Miami, said fears persist about the former administration's so-called public charge rule, which sought to deny green cards to immigrants who receive food stamps or other public benefits.

While the public charge rule never restricted access to testing or vaccinations for a communicable disease — and it is being challenged in courts — Rodriguez says, “it doesn’t matter, the perception still exists.”

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts recently came under criticism when he said workers with legal status would be prioritized in the state’s vaccine rollout over those without legal status when he was asked about the plan to protect the state’s meatpacking facilities, which historically have relied on foreign-born labor. But a day later, Ricketts appeared to walk back his statement, saying through his spokesman that “proof of citizenship is not required for vaccination,” the Omaha-World Herald reported.

Blanca Flores, a community organizer at the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, an alliance of female farmworkers, said many of the women she works with in rural Homestead, Florida, believe that any personal information they provide could somehow be used against them later. They also worry about missing a few day’s work and possibly getting fired if they suffer adverse side effects.

“They would like to wait a month or two to see what happens and decide later,” said Flores, a Colombian-born immigrant with legal residency.

But others are eager — perhaps reflecting the way in which Latino immigrant communities have been disproportionately hit by the virus. In New York, Francisco Flores, a Mexican immigrant who lost a brother, a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law to COVID-19, said he would not hesitate to take the shot.

Flores, who is 54 and has lived without authorization in the U.S. for more than 20 years, plans to sign up the moment he can.

“The government already has my data. I have been here for a long time. I have a driver’s license, bank accounts. I have nothing to fear,” said Flores, who works for a company that makes golf courses. “And after what we went through with COVID, I would not hesitate to take the vaccine.”

Riverside County says new COVID-19 vaccine website will help after online frustration with appointment setting

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:49:37 +0000

Many residents hoping to secure one of the highly sought after COVID-19 vaccine appointments were extremely frustrated Thursday when they were unable to gain access to the Riverside County website.

But officials hope that won’t happen again on Saturday when thousands of new appointment slots are expected to open.

The county's new COVID-19 vaccine website is expected to provide residents with a more efficient appointment making system. On Thursday a technical issue in a website code left many residents disappointed when 3,900 appointments opened at noon, but residents who tried to register online instead received a timeout screen.

"Residents are understandably frustrated that the appointment website did not perform today,” Juan C. Perez, the county's interim executive officer, said in a statement. "While we worked with our vendor to ensure it would be operational today, unfortunately, it was not. Frankly, that’s unacceptable. We apologize for this unfortunate situation and will soon direct residents to a new website."

When more appointments are open the new county site will continue to link to the state’s vaccine registration portal, but if all the appointments are already booked after residents finish the state's registration process they will not be able to secure a time.

When appointments are open, the new county site will continue to link to the state’s vaccine registration portal. Note: if all appointments are booked when completing the state’s registration, users will not be able to secure a time. #RivCoNOW #RUHealth https://t.co/G7LEP3Mzqz pic.twitter.com/6v0ogZNouG
— Dr. Cameron Kaiser (@RivCoDoc) January 22, 2021

On Saturday more appointments are scheduled to open at noon for next week’s vaccine clinics in Corona, Menifee, Beaumont and Indio. Officials said approximately 10,000 appointments will be available for anyone within Phase 1A and Phase 1B, which includes those 65 and older.

The following locations will have vaccine clinics starting Monday, Jan. 25 through Friday, Jan. 29 with appointments between 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

On Mondays and Fridays, the following locations will be open for seniors only.

Corona High School - 1150 W. 10^th St., Corona
Heritage High School - 26001 Briggs Rd., Menifee
San Gorgonio Middle School - 1591 Cherry Ave., Beaumont
Indio Fairgrounds (Fullenwider Auditorium) - 46350 Arabia St., Indio

On Tuesdays through Thursdays, the following clinics will be open for everyone in Phase 1A and Phase 1B, as well as those 65 and over.

Corona High School - 1150 W. 10^th St., Corona
Heritage High School - 26001 Briggs Rd., Menifee
San Gorgonio Middle School - 1591 Cherry Ave., Beaumont
Indio Fairgrounds (Fullenwider Auditorium) - 46350 Arabia St., Indio

The clinics will provide vaccines free of charge, however those who show up must register prior to arrival, have an appointment and show proof of eligibility. Medical insurance information will be requested, although not required.

For more COVID-19 vaccine information and to schedule an appointment, rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine.

Riverside County Revamps Health Website

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 00:35:55 +0000

An apology from the county after another disastrous rollout of vaccine signups. Residents trying to sign up for vaccine appointments were instead met with error messages and an unusable website.

“We certainly understand that frustration and apologize for the county’s website performance which was providing only intermittent or sporadic access to our schedule of upcoming clinics for the weekend,” said Brooke Federico, Riverside County Public Information Officer.

County officials blame coding issues for the website crash but also the state-wide web portal.

“That state-wide system, to put it in very simple terms is not built like TicketMaster, the way that it works is that our residents have to input all of their personal information and then get to the end and see if there are available time slots,” explained Federico.

If you were lucky enough to start filling out your personal information, by the time you finished most appointments had already been filled. A new website is now up and running and the county promises a smoother user experience.

“We’re launching this new website to provide uninterrupted access to our residents so that when they need to get on to our website the most that it is performing for them,” added Federico.

That new website will be put to the test on Saturday at noon, that’s when another round of vaccination appointment slots open up. In addition to major problems with the website, the county is also warning there’s not enough vaccine to go around.

“What we can safely say is that we do expect the supply to be similar for the next couple of months. With the next vaccine that might be approved, at the earliest we’re guessing that would be in the spring, maybe March or April,” said Geoffrey Leung, Chief of Family Medicine with Riverside County.

With that vaccine shortage in mind, elected officials are considering taking a step backward.. and re-prioritizing who’s able to get a vaccine.

“You know this issue is an issue of the fact that we don’t have the adequate supply of vaccines. maybe we vaccinate folks, we go back to the original system and vaccinate folks that are 75 and older, and maybe there is a way in which we can vaccinate individuals that may be 65 and older that may have comorbidities,” said V. Manuel Perez who sits on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

“We get vaccines on a weekly basis, and that’s why we open up these clinics on a weekly basis as well. it’s based on the amount that we expect to receive next week,” said Federico.

To visit the new website you can follow the link below: www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine

2,724 New Coronavirus Cases, 38 New Deaths Friday in Riverside County

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 22:45:50 +0000

Riverside County health officials are reporting 2,724 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases and 38 additional deaths Friday bringing the countywide totals to 258,352 cases and 2,777 deaths.

There are 456 new COVID19 cases and 2 new deaths in the Coachella Valley.

Here are the numbers for the Coachella Valley city-by-city:

Desert Hot Springs: 3,594 (+58) cases, 48 deaths
Cathedral City: 6,201 (+69) cases, 74 (+1) deaths
Palm Springs: 3,248 (+25) cases, 89 deaths
Rancho Mirage: 922 (+20) cases, 28 deaths
Palm Desert: 3,412 (+45) cases, 85 (+1) deaths
Indian Wells: 169 cases, 6 deaths
La Quinta: 2,924 (+24) cases, 44 deaths
Indio: 10,932 (+122) cases, 157deaths
Coachella: 7,138 (+51) cases, 59 deaths
Thousand Palms: 882 (+12) cases, 5 deaths
Bermuda Dunes: 568 (+4) cases, 6 deaths
Thermal: 419 (+7) cases, 4 deaths
Mecca: 1,053 (+14) cases, 16 deaths
North Shore: 318 (+1) cases, 2 death
Oasis: 784 (+2) cases, 6 deaths
Sky Valley: 178 (+1) cases, 2 deaths
Cabazon: 259 (+1) cases, 1 death
Anza: 113 cases, no deaths

There are 78,572 active cases of coronavirus. This number is derived from the total number of confirmed cases and the subtraction of the total number of recoveries and deaths.

At this time age group, 18 – 39 continues to have the highest number of confirmed cases in the county with 102,771 cases.

According to the Riverside University Health System, 1,497 patients infected with coronavirus were hospitalized countywide as of Friday, down from 1,529 Thursday. That number includes 335 patients in intensive care units.

The 11-county Southern California region’s available ICU capacity is at 0.0%. The zero-percent capacity means the county’s hospitals are now in their surge plans; it does not mean there are no ICU beds available.

The 38 newly reported fatalities bring the county’s coronavirus death toll to 2,777.

The number of documented patient recoveries stands at 177,003.

Riverside County health officials said the Moderna vaccine doses being used at county-run vaccination clinics scheduled for this week are not from that batch.

Officials also said that shipments of vaccine distributed from the county to private providers countywide are also not thought to be from the affected batch.

Adverse reactions at both county-run vaccine clinics and private entities within Riverside County have so far been rare, officials said.

“We are checking with our partners, and at this time, we have not found any within Riverside County providers. We are also not aware of providers that have seen adverse reactions. We continue to see that adverse reactions are rare,” county Executive Office spokeswoman Brooke Federico said.

According to the state, more than 330,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine were included in the affected lot, and they were distributed to 287 locations across California. The 330,000 doses are roughly 10% of the 3.2 million doses the state has received overall from Moderna and Pfizer.

No other significant issues with allergic reactions have occurred at any other location where the affected lot was distributed, according to the state. It was not clear which other locations received the affected doses.

Riverside County’s overall COVID-19 positive rate is 23.5%, down from 25.8% last week, based on state-adjusted figures.

The doubling time — or the number of days in which documented virus cases increase 100% — is 35 days. A doubling rate of seven days is reason for alarm, while expanding doubling times point to moderation, or gradual success in virus containment, according to health officials.

The regional ICU bed metric is a key benchmark under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s regional stay-at-home order, which went into effect on Dec. 6. The order was triggered when ICU bed availability across Southern California fell below 15%.

The mandate is expected to remain in effect until bed availabilities recover.

The current stay-at-home order impacts bars, theaters, museums, hair salons, indoor recreational facilities, amusement parks and wineries — all of which are supposed to remain closed.

Restaurants are confined to takeout and delivery, with capacity limitations on retail outlets.

Information on tier requirements can be found at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

Residents of all ages are encouraged to get tested, with or without symptoms, to identify where the disease is currently present in the community and where it is not. Testing continues to be an integral focus as more residents visit more businesses. Visit www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus/testing for more information on testing locations and how to make an appointment.

Click here for a map of Riverside County cases.

Article updated: 1/22/2020

How to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:48:41 +0000

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout in California has been scattered and slower than expected as supplies remain scarce and counties expand access and offer the doses at different paces, but more people are getting vaccinated every day.

Those seeking to sign up for the vaccine have been plagued by confusion over who's eligible, technical issues on appointment websites, quickly filled slots, and, for some, long wait times at vaccination sites.

At the same time, some others have been able to smoothly sign up and quickly get the needed doses.

There's currently no statewide registry to sign up for the vaccines, though state officials have said a new system is coming that will help residents schedule appointments at mass vaccination sites.

For right now, eligibility and sign-up procedures vary by county.

As of Jan. 22, below we explain who can get the vaccine and how to make an appointment in:

Los Angeles County
Orange County
Riverside County
San Bernardino County
Ventura County

Most counties require that appointments be made by registering online.

KTLA digital staff will seek to keep this post updated as new availability and eligibility information is announced.

Los Angeles County

L.A. County on Jan. 19 opened up COVID-19 vaccine appointments to those 65 and older. Health care workers and residents and staff at long-term care facilities were already eligible.

At the same time, county health officials cautioned that supply is limited so appointment slots for seniors will be limited.

Those eligible in L.A. County can get an appointment by:

going to the county's website here
or calling 833-540-0473 if not able to sign up online

On the website, select whether you are a health care worker, long-term facility resident or a person aged 65 or older — then you'll see what you need to bring with you to the appointment. Then, click “Make an appointment to be vaccinated by LAC DPH and partners."

You can then browse through all the appointment slots at the five large county vaccine distribution sites, L.A. Fire Department sites, community clinics, hospitals and pharmacies. When you find the site you want with availability, click "register." You'll be redirected to a page that lets you enter your information.

People can also go straight to the city of L.A.'s online portal to make an appointment, but the system wasn't accepting new sign-ups on Jan. 22.

More on eligibility and distribution is on the county's website here.

Long Beach

For those in Long Beach, which has its own public health department, appointments can be made here.

All appointments were full on Jan. 22 and officials were telling residents to sign up here to get a notification when slots are available.

The city on Jan. 20 announced it is offering COVID-19 vaccines to workers in the food sector like restaurant staff and grocery store workers. Those eligible were told to first check with their employers to see if they're offering the vaccine. If not, sign up here to be notified when shots are available.

Pasadena

Pasadena also has its own health department and has expanded vaccine access to residents 75 and older — in addition to health care workers and those at long-term care facilities.

As of Jan. 21, its website said the city is still waiting for a vaccine supply from the state before it makes appointments available.

Orange County

Orange County also started vaccinating all residents aged 65 and older, in addition to workers in multiple health-related categories.

Residents can only make an appointment online by clicking here.

On the website, you'll first answer a few questions, then click the blue "register" button. You'll be redirected to a page that lets you enter your information.

Those with questions can call 714-834-2000.

The county is providing the COVID-19 vaccine at Disneyland, and other clinics and distribution sites throughout the county. Starting Jan. 23, Soka University in Aliso Viejo will also serve as a "super POD" vaccine site.

Riverside County

In addition to expanding vaccine access to those 65 and older, Riverside County has also made the shots available to essential workers such as educators, dentists, mortuary staff, food and agriculture workers, pharmacy staff and those in emergency services — plus frontline health care workers.

Residents were told to sign up for an appointment at a county-operated clinic through ruhealth.org. But appointments filled up fast and the website being used to book appointments was experiencing technical issues so officials announced a new website will be coming soon.

Seniors who need help making an appointment can call 800-510-2020 or 2-1-1.

Those eligible for the vaccine in Riverside County can also sign up to get their shots at Albertsons Pharmacy, Apple Urgent Care and Ralphs Pharmacy.

Information on eligibility and vaccine sites is at the county's website here.

San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County is vaccinating health care workers and people in long-term care facilities, and has begun to vaccinate those 65 and older but does not have enough supplies to meet demand.

Appointments at county-operated sites, and hospitals and pharmacies, can be made by clicking here, but that website has been down on and off since it was announced Jan. 14.

All appointment slots were full as of Jan. 20, the county said, and the sign-up website was down on Jan. 21.

Those who do manage to access the website and find an available slot can click the link next to their desired appointment date. They will then be redirected to a page that lets them fill in their personal information, including health insurance details, and book an appointment.

San Bernardino County residents aged 65 and older can sign up here to get an email or text notification for updates on vaccination opportunities.

Ventura County

Unlike surrounding areas, Ventura County is still not vaccinating those 65 and older as of Jan. 21. The vaccine is available to residents aged 75 years and older, health care workers and those in long-term care facilities.

Those eligible can click here to book an appointment.

All appointments were booked as of Jan. 22.

You have to scroll to the bottom of the page and select which category you fall under and indicate whether you're looking to get your first or second dose. You will be redirected to a page that lists several different appointment dates.

Click "check appointment availability" next to each date until you find one that lets you proceed to fill in your information and reserve a spot.

Officials said the pace of vaccination is dependent on supply and it's not yet able to vaccinate other groups of residents.

Where to check for updates on vaccine eligibility:

Coronavirus state tracker: A peak of 740 deaths reported in California on Jan. 22

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:07:23 +0000

California’s case count is 3,097,902 on Jan. 22, 2021.

According to data gleaned from local public health departments across the state, there were 25,246 new cases and 740 new deaths reported from Friday, Jan. 22.

And, of the 3.2 million vaccinations distributed throughout the state, 1.39 million have been administered, tracking showed.

There are 19,855 hospitalized patients with the coronavirus across the state, 553 fewer patients than in Thursday’s reports.

California regions and ICU capacity for Jan. 19

As ICU capacity dwindles in Southern California the percentages in this graphic have been adjusted by state public health officials to represent the high levels of COVID-19 patients among all ICU patients. More actual beds may be available.

Vaccines administered as of Jan. 17

The California Department of Public Health site shows a total of 3,226,775 vaccine doses, which includes the first and second dose, have been shipped to local health departments and health care systems as of Jan. 17.

The totals of vaccines administered across six different regions are in the maps below. As of Jan. 17, a total of 1,393,224 vaccine doses have been administered statewide.That’s up 609,748 from the Jan. 11 report. The state cautions that the numbers do not represent true day-to-day change as reporting may be delayed.

Coronavirus state tracker: A peak of 740 deaths reported in California on Jan. 22

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:07:22 +0000

California’s case count is 3,097,902 on Jan. 22, 2021.

According to data gleaned from local public health departments across the state, there were 25,246 new cases and 740 new deaths reported from Friday, Jan. 22.

And, of the 3.2 million vaccinations distributed throughout the state, 1.39 million have been administered, tracking showed.

There are 19,855 hospitalized patients with the coronavirus across the state, 553 fewer patients than in Thursday’s reports.

California regions and ICU capacity for Jan. 19

Vaccines administered as of Jan. 17

Coronavirus state tracker: A peak of 740 deaths reported in California on Jan. 22

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 20:07:21 +0000

California’s case count is 3,097,902 on Jan. 22, 2021.

According to data gleaned from local public health departments across the state, there were 25,246 new cases and 740 new deaths reported from Friday, Jan. 22.

And, of the 3.2 million vaccinations distributed throughout the state, 1.39 million have been administered, tracking showed.

There are 19,855 hospitalized patients with the coronavirus across the state, 553 fewer patients than in Thursday’s reports.

California regions and ICU capacity for Jan. 19

Vaccines administered as of Jan. 17

Riverside Unified schools chief David Hansen to retire at end of school year

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 19:56:59 +0000

Riverside Unified School District Superintendent David Hansen will retire at the end of the school year.

Hansen, the district’s chief of schools since 2014, made the announcement at a board meeting Thursday, Jan. 21.

In a statement, board President Thomas R. Hunt II praised Hansen’s leadership for the past six-plus years.

Hansen “has enhanced operations and has advanced the Board of Education’s goals more than any other Superintendent before him,” Hunt II said in a news release. “We will greatly miss David, yet he leaves RUSD better set for today’s challenges and the opportunities of tomorrow.”

Hansen has been a educator for more than 30 years, starting out as a teacher at Central Middle School in Riverside. Hansen was an assistant principal at Central Middle School and Riverside Poly High School and later the principal at Gage Middle School in Riverside and Arlington High School in Riverside.

The Corona-Norco Unified School District tabbed him assistant superintendent during the summer of 2008 and he held that position for six years. Hansen took the helm as RUSD’s 11th superintendent on July 1, 2014.

“Serving Riverside students and families for so many years has been a most rewarding experience,” Hansen wrote in a message posted on the district’s website. From the intimate joys of being a classroom teacher to the daily leadership lessons of a school administrator, I have embraced and enjoyed each role.”

The search for Hansen’s successor will begin immediately and the RUSD Board of Trustees will determine the process for selecting a new superintendent. The plan will be shared with district staff and the community when available.

Coronavirus surge pushes Inland Empire hospital workers to breaking point

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 19:37:31 +0000

More than 600 Inland Empire residents are in intensive care units, hospitalized with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Southern California hospitals have officially been at 100% ICU capacity for more than a month.

Although the July coronavirus surge seemed “overwhelming” at the time, Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency room doctor at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, said “we’re at 2.2 times what we saw in July.”

Local hospitals have been pushed to the breaking point.

In December, Gov. Gavin Newsom waived a state law requiring hospitals to have one nurse for every five patients and one for every two ICU patients. Conference rooms, waiting rooms, cafeterias and other parts of Inland hospitals have been converted into patient care areas.

Dr. Troy Pennington gives a tour inside a patient room in the new COVID-19 treatment trailer at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Troy Pennington enters a tent that was used for COVID-19 patient overflow at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency room physician, poses inside the new COVID-19 treatment trailer at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency room physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, is seen inside the new COVID-19 treatment trailer Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, a pulmonologist who works in Inland hospitals, does telemedicine from Corona on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Anoop Maheshwari holds an office meeting with his staff in Corona on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Pulmonologist Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, seen Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, works in a number of Inland hospitals. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Anoop Maheshwari works remotely from his office in Corona on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, seen Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, is a pulmonologist who works in Inland hospitals. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, who recovered from the coronavirus, is seen in his Corona office Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Tejaskumar Naik, seen Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, works with COVID-19 patients at Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center in Riverside. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Tejaskumar Naik, seen Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, works with COVID-19 patients at Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center in Riverside. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Dr. Tejaskumar Naik, an infectious disease specialist, works with COVID-19 patients at Parkview Community Hospital in Riverside on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Marcial Reyes, an emergency room nurse and a COVID-19 survivor, stands outside the ambulance entrance at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Marcial Reyes, an ER nurse and a COVID-19 survivor, is seen Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, after his 12-hour shift at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
ER nurse Marcial Reyes is seen outside the ambulance entrance at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Coronavirus surge pushes Inland Empire hospital workers to breaking point

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 19:37:31 +0000

More than 600 Inland Empire residents are in intensive care units, hospitalized with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Southern California hospitals have officially been at 100% ICU capacity for more than a month.

Although the July coronavirus surge seemed “overwhelming” at the time, Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency room doctor at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, said “we’re at 2.2 times what we saw in July.”

Local hospitals have been pushed to the breaking point.

In December, Gov. Gavin Newsom waived a state law requiring hospitals to have one nurse for every five patients and one for every two ICU patients. Conference rooms, waiting rooms, cafeterias and other parts of Inland hospitals have been converted into patient care areas.
- Dr. Troy Pennington gives a tour inside a patient room in the new COVID-19 treatment trailer at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Troy Pennington enters a tent that was used for COVID-19 patient overflow at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Sound
  The gallery will resume inseconds
- Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency room physician, poses inside the new COVID-19 treatment trailer at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Troy Pennington, an emergency room physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, is seen inside the new COVID-19 treatment trailer Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, a pulmonologist who works in Inland hospitals, does telemedicine from Corona on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Anoop Maheshwari holds an office meeting with his staff in Corona on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Pulmonologist Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, seen Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, works in a number of Inland hospitals. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Anoop Maheshwari works remotely from his office in Corona on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, seen Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, is a pulmonologist who works in Inland hospitals. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Anoop Maheshwari, who recovered from the coronavirus, is seen in his Corona office Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Infectious disease specialist Dr. Tejaskumar Naik, seen Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, works with COVID-19 patients at Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center in Riverside. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Infectious disease specialist Dr. Tejaskumar Naik, seen Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, works with COVID-19 patients at Parkview Community Hospital Medical Center in Riverside. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Dr. Tejaskumar Naik, an infectious disease specialist, works with COVID-19 patients at Parkview Community Hospital in Riverside on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Marcial Reyes, an emergency room nurse and a COVID-19 survivor, stands outside the ambulance entrance at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Marcial Reyes, an ER nurse and a COVID-19 survivor, is seen Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, after his 12-hour shift at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- ER nurse Marcial Reyes is seen outside the ambulance entrance at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Marcial Reyes, an ER nurse, is seen Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, after the end of his 12-hour shift at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Fontana. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Nurse Marcial Reyes removes his protective face shield after a 12-hour shift in th
San Dimas biotech startup Curative captures large slice of coronavirus test market

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:40:18 +0000

In less than a year, a once-obscure biotech startup in San Dimas, headed by a 26-year-old Oxford dropout, captured a large slice of the coronavirus test market – manufacturing and processing 14 million tests nationwide to date.

Fueled by dollars from venture capitalists, Curative Inc. developed, at lightning speed, a self-administered oral-swab test with a turnaround time of 48 hours. Last spring, the company found itself within the circle of more than 100 federally approved companies from across the country allowed to provide newly developed COVID-19 tests under emergency use authorizations.

Scaling its output to 1 million units per week, Curative, almost as quickly as it developed its test, began partnering with some of the largest states, counties, cities and federal agencies across the U.S., including the cities of Los Angeles and Riverside and Marin County in California, the states of Texas and Florida, the city of Chicago, and the Department of Defense.
- A Curative kiosk located on the north side of Riverside City Hall offers Curative COVID-19 testing in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Curative, Inc.’s mobile van for COVID-19 testing is set up for testing in the parking lot of Sgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Sound
  The gallery will resume inseconds
- Signs for the Curative, Inc.’s mobile van for COVID-19 testing are set near the parking lot of Sgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- A Curative kiosk located on the north side of Riverside City Hall offers Curative COVID-19 testing in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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A Jan. 4 safety alert by the Food and Drug Administration pushed Curative into the national spotlight when it warned that the company’s test could produce false negative results if not properly administered. The test, which uses a technique known as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, requires people to cough three times and use a cotton swab to rub along their gum line and tongue. Additionally, the FDA asked that people taking the self-administered test be observed by a health-care worker.

While the alert ended the company’s partnerships with Los Angeles and Sonoma counties and Congress, Curative was undeterred, maintaining partnerships with 14 other states, cities and counties, and expanding its services to include COVID-19 vaccination. On Jan.15, Curative launched its first company-run vaccination site at El Camino College in Torrance, and will soon open another test site in Palm Desert, a company spokesman said.

Test effectiveness praised

Curative and its partners say the test is highly effective when administered according to label, as the FDA instructed in its public safety alert.

“The test is still one of the most accurate on the market. It just needs to be administered properly,” said Riverside fire Capt. Brian Guzzetta, who manages Curative’s test sites in the city. “If you put batteries in a flashlight backwards, it’s not going to work. You just need to follow the directions in order for it to work.”

Following the FDA’s safety alert, Assistant Secretary of Health, Admiral Brett Giroir, told the Associated Press that the Federal Department of Health and Human Services was working with congressional physicians to find an alternative to Curative’s test for use on Capitol Hill. However, Congress’ attending physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, said in a memo dated Jan. 4 that Curative’s test was the most reliable one to date but was “always at risk for failing to detect small amounts of virus when it is actually present.”

“This may happen more often when people are without symptoms of the coronavirus disease,” Monahan said in his memo. “This is not unique to this test. It is a problem for all coronavirus tests.”

Monahan also stressed that the FDA notice did “not raise any doubts about the accuracy of a positive test result,” and that the potential concern only relates to negative test results.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, Curative’s acting medical director, described the FDA notice about Curative’s test as “confusing” and did not provide any data to support its stance. While the warning reminds people to follow test instructions carefully and be observed, Klausner said, the FDA only authorizes the test, it does not regulate a physician’s or nurse’s practice.

“It’s one of the most popular tests for a reason with over 10,000 sites across the country,” Klausner said in a phone interview Wednesday, Jan. 13. “Bottom line is that the current test works fine.”

Despite concerns of accuracy, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti defended the city’s decision to continue working working with Curative, as its test has been able to detect positive results from 92,000 asymptomatic people, which, he said, would have otherwise gone undetected and further spread the virus.

“That’s 92,000 people who otherwise might have not known, might have been spreading and might have seen this explode even more,” he said at a news conference on Jan. 7.

Meteoric rise

Founded in the Silicon Valley’s Menlo Park in January 2020, Curative Inc. began its venture improving on sepsis testing, but when the pandemic struck, it shifted its focus to COVID-19 testing, producing an oral swab test that could be self-administered in 20 seconds. Curative acquired KorvaLabs Inc. and set up a mini campus in San Dimas.
Related links
The company’s CEO, Fred Turner, is a 26-year-old, Oxford-educated science and technology prodigy who in September 2020 told the scientific trade journal Cell Systems that he dropped out of college to pursue his interests, and that he started and pivoted two biotechnology companies in the Silicon Valley prior to starting Curative. He said Curative has “captured up to 10% of the daily COVID-19 test samples across the United States” in its brief nine-month history.

In developing its test, Curative, according to its founders, anticipated supply chain issues, so a process was created that didn’t rely on the same supplies other companies use, preventing a supply shortage and allowing the company to maintain its weekly production quota of 1 million tests. Curative has conducted 14 million COVID-19 tests nationwide at more than 8,000 sites.

In starting out, Curative received a boost from venture capitalists who helped power the startup company’s engine.

“Curative raised a small initial round of venture capital and has not raised funds since,” said company spokesman Pasquale Gianni. “Curative was lucky to have a number of competent and capable individuals lean in to scaling COVID-19 testing at a time when the country’s existing public health and testing infrastructure was unable to meet demand.”

A shoutout on Twitter from venture capitalist Laura Deming, informing her followers that Curative was ready to roll out thousands of COVID-19 tests and seeking takers, helped the company land its contract with the city of Los Angeles. Deming’s work focuses on the scientific research of extending life and reversing the effects of aging.

Looking for people to help a company massively scale up COVID-19 testing capacity – email ldeming.www@gmail.com if you can help. Will need to hire lab techs (recruit + manage) and coordinate supply chain, skills relevant to any above welcome.

— Laura Deming (@LauraDeming) March 11, 2020

“Her shoutout on Twitter kind of got the ball rolling for Curative moving into Covid-19 testing,” Gianni said.

Curative’s venture has generated hefty returns. From April to July 2020, it collected $64.7 million from the city of Los Angeles alone, before Curative began billing insurance companies directly for testing, said Ian Thompson, spokesman for the city controller’s office.

Curative would not say how much it has collected from insurance carriers for testing nationwide to date.

Turner declined to be interviewed for this story.

Testing continues

Across the nation, Curative continues to test millions of people for COVID-19, and has now begun vaccinating health-care workers and people over age 65 at a vaccination site it is managing at El Camino College in Torrance. The vaccination site launched on Jan. 15, at first testing only health-care workers. On Thursday, Jan. 21, Curative began testing people 65 and older at the site, Gianni said.

No matter where you are in Riverside, COVID-19 testing is available near you! Super fast, super easy, super important. All drive-thru sites, the walk-up kiosk, & the mobile van are open today. Same-day slots available!
Appts: https://t.co/OgNTwjy9uU
Info: https://t.co/FJEahgXkHJ pic.twitter.com/3sEDModanb

— City of Riverside,CA (@riversidecagov) January 21, 2021

In the city of Riverside, Curative has conducted 170,373 tests since Nov. 10. It operates four drive-thru test sites, a kiosk at Riverside City Hall, and a mobile van that travels the city conducting tests at various locations seven days a week, Guzzetta said.

In response to the FDA alert, the city has promoted on its social media platforms the importance of following label instructions to the “T,” as false negative results pose the risk of asymptomatic infected persons unknowingly spreading the virus.

Experts estimate 40% to 60% of people infected show no symptoms, despite carrying similar virus levels as those with full-blown COVID-19 illness.
Related Articles
“What we have done as a city is to ensure all of our tests are emphasizing the importance of following all the directions. One of the instructions is that you cannot eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, or use mouthwash 20 minutes before the test,” Guzzetta said. He said signs have also been posted at all sites with instructions on how to self-administer the test – by coughing deeply three to five times, swabbing the gums, tongue and roof of mouth, and then provide the swab to a Curative worker for processing.

Gianni said Curative has been working with the FDA and is producing additional data in regards to its COVID-19 test, which the company plans to release the week of Jan. 25.

Meanwhile, Curative continues providing testing across the nation under its federal emergency use authorization.

“Nothing’s changed with the tests from when we started until now,” Gianni said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
San Dimas biotech startup Curative captures large slice of coronavirus test market

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:40:17 +0000

In less than a year, a once-obscure biotech startup in San Dimas, headed by a 26-year-old Oxford dropout, captured a large slice of the coronavirus test market – manufacturing and processing 14 million tests nationwide to date.

Fueled by dollars from venture capitalists, Curative Inc. developed, at lightning speed, a self-administered oral-swab test with a turnaround time of 48 hours. Last spring, the company found itself within the circle of more than 100 federally approved companies from across the country allowed to provide newly developed COVID-19 tests under emergency use authorizations.

Scaling its output to 1 million units per week, Curative, almost as quickly as it developed its test, began partnering with some of the largest states, counties, cities and federal agencies across the U.S., including the cities of Los Angeles and Riverside and Marin County in California, the states of Texas and Florida, the city of Chicago, and the Department of Defense.
- A Curative kiosk located on the north side of Riverside City Hall offers Curative COVID-19 testing in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Curative, Inc.’s mobile van for COVID-19 testing is set up for testing in the parking lot of Sgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Sound
  The gallery will resume inseconds
- Signs for the Curative, Inc.’s mobile van for COVID-19 testing are set near the parking lot of Sgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- A Curative kiosk located on the north side of Riverside City Hall offers Curative COVID-19 testing in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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A Jan. 4 safety alert by the Food and Drug Administration pushed Curative into the national spotlight when it warned that the company’s test could produce false negative results if not properly administered. The test, which uses a technique known as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, requires people to cough three times and use a cotton swab to rub along their gum line and tongue. Additionally, the FDA asked that people taking the self-administered test be observed by a health-care worker.

While the alert ended the company’s partnerships with Los Angeles and Sonoma counties and Congress, Curative was undeterred, maintaining partnerships with 14 other states, cities and counties, and expanding its services to include COVID-19 vaccination. On Jan.15, Curative launched its first company-run vaccination site at El Camino College in Torrance, and will soon open another test site in Palm Desert, a company spokesman said.

Test effectiveness praised

Curative and its partners say the test is highly effective when administered according to label, as the FDA instructed in its public safety alert.

“The test is still one of the most accurate on the market. It just needs to be administered properly,” said Riverside fire Capt. Brian Guzzetta, who manages Curative’s test sites in the city. “If you put batteries in a flashlight backwards, it’s not going to work. You just need to follow the directions in order for it to work.”

Following the FDA’s safety alert, Assistant Secretary of Health, Admiral Brett Giroir, told the Associated Press that the Federal Department of Health and Human Services was working with congressional physicians to find an alternative to Curative’s test for use on Capitol Hill. However, Congress’ attending physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, said in a memo dated Jan. 4 that Curative’s test was the most reliable one to date but was “always at risk for failing to detect small amounts of virus when it is actually present.”

“This may happen more often when people are without symptoms of the coronavirus disease,” Monahan said in his memo. “This is not unique to this test. It is a problem for all coronavirus tests.”

Monahan also stressed that the FDA notice did “not raise any doubts about the accuracy of a positive test result,” and that the potential concern only relates to negative test results.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, Curative’s acting medical director, described the FDA notice about Curative’s test as “confusing” and did not provide any data to support its stance. While the warning reminds people to follow test instructions carefully and be observed, Klausner said, the FDA only authorizes the test, it does not regulate a physician’s or nurse’s practice.

“It’s one of the most popular tests for a reason with over 10,000 sites across the country,” Klausner said in a phone interview Wednesday, Jan. 13. “Bottom line is that the current test works fine.”

Despite concerns of accuracy, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti defended the city’s decision to continue working working with Curative, as its test has been able to detect positive results from 92,000 asymptomatic people, which, he said, would have otherwise gone undetected and further spread the virus.

“That’s 92,000 people who otherwise might have not known, might have been spreading and might have seen this explode even more,” he said at a news conference on Jan. 7.

Meteoric rise

Founded in the Silicon Valley’s Menlo Park in January 2020, Curative Inc. began its venture improving on sepsis testing, but when the pandemic struck, it shifted its focus to COVID-19 testing, producing an oral swab test that could be self-administered in 20 seconds. Curative acquired KorvaLabs Inc. and set up a mini campus in San Dimas.
Related links
The company’s CEO, Fred Turner, is a 26-year-old, Oxford-educated science and technology prodigy who in September 2020 told the scientific trade journal Cell Systems that he dropped out of college to pursue his interests, and that he started and pivoted two biotechnology companies in the Silicon Valley prior to starting Curative. He said Curative has “captured up to 10% of the daily COVID-19 test samples across the United States” in its brief nine-month history.

In developing its test, Curative, according to its founders, anticipated supply chain issues, so a process was created that didn’t rely on the same supplies other companies use, preventing a supply shortage and allowing the company to maintain its weekly production quota of 1 million tests. Curative has conducted 14 million COVID-19 tests nationwide at more than 8,000 sites.

In starting out, Curative received a boost from venture capitalists who helped power the startup company’s engine.

“Curative raised a small initial round of venture capital and has not raised funds since,” said company spokesman Pasquale Gianni. “Curative was lucky to have a number of competent and capable individuals lean in to scaling COVID-19 testing at a time when the country’s existing public health and testing infrastructure was unable to meet demand.”

A shoutout on Twitter from venture capitalist Laura Deming, informing her followers that Curative was ready to roll out thousands of COVID-19 tests and seeking takers, helped the company land its contract with the city of Los Angeles. Deming’s work focuses on the scientific research of extending life and reversing the effects of aging.

Looking for people to help a company massively scale up COVID-19 testing capacity – email ldeming.www@gmail.com if you can help. Will need to hire lab techs (recruit + manage) and coordinate supply chain, skills relevant to any above welcome.

— Laura Deming (@LauraDeming) March 11, 2020

“Her shoutout on Twitter kind of got the ball rolling for Curative moving into Covid-19 testing,” Gianni said.

Curative’s venture has generated hefty returns. From April to July 2020, it collected $64.7 million from the city of Los Angeles alone, before Curative began billing insurance companies directly for testing, said Ian Thompson, spokesman for the city controller’s office.

Curative would not say how much it has collected from insurance carriers for testing nationwide to date.

Turner declined to be interviewed for this story.

Testing continues

Across the nation, Curative continues to test millions of people for COVID-19, and has now begun vaccinating health-care workers and people over age 65 at a vaccination site it is managing at El Camino College in Torrance. The vaccination site launched on Jan. 15, at first testing only health-care workers. On Thursday, Jan. 21, Curative began testing people 65 and older at the site, Gianni said.

No matter where you are in Riverside, COVID-19 testing is available near you! Super fast, super easy, super important. All drive-thru sites, the walk-up kiosk, & the mobile van are open today. Same-day slots available!
Appts: https://t.co/OgNTwjy9uU
Info: https://t.co/FJEahgXkHJ pic.twitter.com/3sEDModanb

— City of Riverside,CA (@riversidecagov) January 21, 2021

In the city of Riverside, Curative has conducted 170,373 tests since Nov. 10. It operates four drive-thru test sites, a kiosk at Riverside City Hall, and a mobile van that travels the city conducting tests at various locations seven days a week, Guzzetta said.

In response to the FDA alert, the city has promoted on its social media platforms the importance of following label instructions to the “T,” as false negative results pose the risk of asymptomatic infected persons unknowingly spreading the virus.

Experts estimate 40% to 60% of people infected show no symptoms, despite carrying similar virus levels as those with full-blown COVID-19 illness.
Related Articles
“What we have done as a city is to ensure all of our tests are emphasizing the importance of following all the directions. One of the instructions is that you cannot eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, or use mouthwash 20 minutes before the test,” Guzzetta said. He said signs have also been posted at all sites with instructions on how to self-administer the test – by coughing deeply three to five times, swabbing the gums, tongue and roof of mouth, and then provide the swab to a Curative worker for processing.

Gianni said Curative has been working with the FDA and is producing additional data in regards to its COVID-19 test, which the company plans to release the week of Jan. 25.

Meanwhile, Curative continues providing testing across the nation under its federal emergency use authorization.

“Nothing’s changed with the tests from when we started until now,” Gianni said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
San Dimas biotech startup Curative captures large slice of coronavirus test market

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:40:17 +0000

In less than a year, a once-obscure biotech startup in San Dimas, headed by a 26-year-old Oxford dropout, captured a large slice of the coronavirus test market – manufacturing and processing 14 million tests nationwide to date.

Fueled by dollars from venture capitalists, Curative Inc. developed, at lightning speed, a self-administered oral-swab test with a turnaround time of 48 hours. Last spring, the company found itself within the circle of more than 100 federally approved companies from across the country allowed to provide newly developed COVID-19 tests under emergency use authorizations.

Scaling its output to 1 million units per week, Curative, almost as quickly as it developed its test, began partnering with some of the largest states, counties, cities and federal agencies across the U.S., including the cities of Los Angeles and Riverside and Marin County in California, the states of Texas and Florida, the city of Chicago, and the Department of Defense.
- A Curative kiosk located on the north side of Riverside City Hall offers Curative COVID-19 testing in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Curative, Inc.’s mobile van for COVID-19 testing is set up for testing in the parking lot of Sgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- Signs for the Curative, Inc.’s mobile van for COVID-19 testing are set near the parking lot of Sgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
- A Curative kiosk located on the north side of Riverside City Hall offers Curative COVID-19 testing in Riverside on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
of
Expand
A Jan. 4 safety alert by the Food and Drug Administration pushed Curative into the national spotlight when it warned that the company’s test could produce false negative results if not properly administered. The test, which uses a technique known as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, requires people to cough three times and use a cotton swab to rub along their gum line and tongue. Additionally, the FDA asked that people taking the self-administered test be observed by a health-care worker.

While the alert ended the company’s partnerships with Los Angeles and Sonoma counties and Congress, Curative was undeterred, maintaining partnerships with 14 other states, cities and counties, and expanding its services to include COVID-19 vaccination. On Jan.15, Curative launched its first company-run vaccination site at El Camino College in Torrance, and will soon open another test site in Palm Desert, a company spokesman said.

Test effectiveness praised

Curative and its partners say the test is highly effective when administered according to label, as the FDA instructed in its public safety alert.

“The test is still one of the most accurate on the market. It just needs to be administered properly,” said Riverside fire Capt. Brian Guzzetta, who manages Curative’s test sites in the city. “If you put batteries in a flashlight backwards, it’s not going to work. You just need to follow the directions in order for it to work.”

Following the FDA’s safety alert, Assistant Secretary of Health, Admiral Brett Giroir, told the Associated Press that the Federal Department of Health and Human Services was working with congressional physicians to find an alternative to Curative’s test for use on Capitol Hill. However, Congress’ attending physician, Dr. Brian P. Monahan, said in a memo dated Jan. 4 that Curative’s test was the most reliable one to date but was “always at risk for failing to detect small amounts of virus when it is actually present.”

“This may happen more often when people are without symptoms of the coronavirus disease,” Monahan said in his memo. “This is not unique to this test. It is a problem for all coronavirus tests.”

Monahan also stressed that the FDA notice did “not raise any doubts about the accuracy of a positive test result,” and that the potential concern only relates to negative test results.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, Curative’s acting medical director, described the FDA notice about Curative’s test as “confusing” and did not provide any data to support its stance. While the warning reminds people to follow test instructions carefully and be observed, Klausner said, the FDA only authorizes the test, it does not regulate a physician’s or nurse’s practice.

“It’s one of the most popular tests for a reason with over 10,000 sites across the country,” Klausner said in a phone interview Wednesday, Jan. 13. “Bottom line is that the current test works fine.”

Despite concerns of accuracy, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti defended the city’s decision to continue working working with Curative, as its test has been able to detect positive results from 92,000 asymptomatic people, which, he said, would have otherwise gone undetected and further spread the virus.

“That’s 92,000 people who otherwise might have not known, might have been spreading and might have seen this explode even more,” he said at a news conference on Jan. 7.

Meteoric rise

Founded in the Silicon Valley’s Menlo Park in January 2020, Curative Inc. began its venture improving on sepsis testing, but when the pandemic struck, it shifted its focus to COVID-19 testing, producing an oral swab test that could be self-administered in 20 seconds. Curative acquired KorvaLabs Inc. and set up a mini campus in San Dimas.
Related links
The company’s CEO, Fred Turner, is a 26-year-old, Oxford-educated science and technology prodigy who in September 2020 told the scientific trade journal Cell Systems that he dropped out of college to pursue his interests, and that he started and pivoted two biotechnology companies in the Silicon Valley prior to starting Curative. He said Curative has “captured up to 10% of the daily COVID-19 test samples across the United States” in its brief nine-month history.

In developing its test, Curative, according to its founders, anticipated supply chain issues, so a process was created that didn’t rely on the same supplies other companies use, preventing a supply shortage and allowing the company to maintain its weekly production quota of 1 million tests. Curative has conducted 14 million COVID-19 tests nationwide at more than 8,000 sites.

In starting out, Curative received a boost from venture capitalists who helped power the startup company’s engine.

“Curative raised a small initial round of venture capital and has not raised funds since,” said company spokesman Pasquale Gianni. “Curative was lucky to have a number of competent and capable individuals lean in to scaling COVID-19 testing at a time when the country’s existing public health and testing infrastructure was unable to meet demand.”

A shoutout on Twitter from venture capitalist Laura Deming, informing her followers that Curative was ready to roll out thousands of COVID-19 tests and seeking takers, helped the company land its contract with the city of Los Angeles. Deming’s work focuses on the scientific research of extending life and reversing the effects of aging.

Looking for people to help a company massively scale up COVID-19 testing capacity – email ldeming.www@gmail.com if you can help. Will need to hire lab techs (recruit + manage) and coordinate supply chain, skills relevant to any above welcome.

— Laura Deming (@LauraDeming) March 11, 2020

“Her shoutout on Twitter kind of got the ball rolling for Curative moving into Covid-19 testing,” Gianni said.

Curative’s venture has generated hefty returns. From April to July 2020, it collected $64.7 million from the city of Los Angeles alone, before Curative began billing insurance companies directly for testing, said Ian Thompson, spokesman for the city controller’s office.

Curative would not say how much it has collected from insurance carriers for testing nationwide to date.

Turner declined to be interviewed for this story.

Testing continues

Across the nation, Curative continues to test millions of people for COVID-19, and has now begun vaccinating health-care workers and people over age 65 at a vaccination site it is managing at El Camino College in Torrance. The vaccination site launched on Jan. 15, at first testing only health-care workers. On Thursday, Jan. 21, Curative began testing people 65 and older at the site, Gianni said.

No matter where you are in Riverside, COVID-19 testing is available near you! Super fast, super easy, super important. All drive-thru sites, the walk-up kiosk, & the mobile van are open today. Same-day slots available!
Appts: https://t.co/OgNTwjy9uU
Info: https://t.co/FJEahgXkHJ pic.twitter.com/3sEDModanb

— City of Riverside,CA (@riversidecagov) January 21, 2021

In the city of Riverside, Curative has conducted 170,373 tests since Nov. 10. It operates four drive-thru test sites, a kiosk at Riverside City Hall, and a mobile van that travels the city conducting tests at various locations seven days a week, Guzzetta said.

In response to the FDA alert, the city has promoted on its social media platforms the importance of following label instructions to the “T,” as false negative results pose the risk of asymptomatic infected persons unknowingly spreading the virus.

Experts estimate 40% to 60% of people infected show no symptoms, despite carrying similar virus levels as those with full-blown COVID-19 illness.
Related Articles
“What we have done as a city is to ensure all of our tests are emphasizing the importance of following all the directions. One of the instructions is that you cannot eat, drink, smoke, chew gum, or use mouthwash 20 minutes before the test,” Guzzetta said. He said signs have also been posted at all sites with instructions on how to self-administer the test – by coughing deeply three to five times, swabbing the gums, tongue and roof of mouth, and then provide the swab to a Curative worker for processing.

Gianni said Curative has been working with the FDA and is producing additional data in regards to its COVID-19 test, which the company plans to release the week of Jan. 25.

Meanwhile, Curative continues providing testing across the nation under its federal emergency use authorization.

“Nothing’s changed with the tests from when we started until now,” Gianni said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
1 motorist dies, 2 others injured in Mead Valley collision

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:09:31 +0000

One person died and two others were hospitalized Friday, Jan. 22, in a traffic collision in Mead Valley that involved a Riverside County Transportation Department pickup.

The California Highway Patrol, which is investigating the crash, did not have details on the cause late Friday.

The collision was reported just after 3 p.m. at the intersection of Harvill Avenue and Rider Street, south of Riverside. Images from the scene show a dark-colored sedan crushed between the orange county pickup and a red civilian pickup.

It was not immediately announced in which vehicle the person perished.

One person died in this collision involving a Riverside County Transportation Department pickup in Mead Valley on Jan. 22, 2021. (LoudLabs News)
Related Articles
Former Corona City Councilman Nolan accused of marijuana violations

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:06:52 +0000

Former Corona City Councilman Steve Nolan has been cited on suspicion of illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale, the Riverside County jail log shows.

Nolan, a 58-year-old former Anaheim police officer, was cited by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Investigations Bureau at his Rising Sun Road home at 3:20 a.m. on Jan. 14. The citations are misdemeanors.

Southern California Edison is participating in the investigation, SCE spokeswoman Taelor Bakewell said. She didn’t have any further details. Marijuana growers sometimes illegally tap into electricity sources. Solar panels cover the roof of Nolan’s home.

Nolan had not been charged as of Friday, Jan. 22.

Nolan did not return a phone message seeking comment or respond to messages left at his home.

The residence, just outside the Corona city limits, is on a lot that has a large metal structure in the back.

The Sheriff’s Department has declined to provide any additional details of the investigation.

Nolan was a councilman from 2004 to 2012 and was a controversial figure, holding fast to his demand for an audit of the Corona Police Department and sticking up for friends who were in trouble to the point that it brought trouble to Nolan himself. He also suffered the failure of two Backwoods BBQ restaurants and filed for bankruptcy.

He was a police officer from 1982-1994, according to his LinkedIn profile.
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Former Corona City Councilman Nolan accused of marijuana violations

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:06:51 +0000

Former Corona City Councilman Steve Nolan has been cited on suspicion of illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale, the Riverside County jail log shows.

Nolan, a 58-year-old former Anaheim police officer, was cited by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Investigations Bureau at his Rising Sun Road home at 3:20 a.m. on Jan. 14. The citations are misdemeanors.

Southern California Edison is participating in the investigation, SCE spokeswoman Taelor Bakewell said. She didn’t have any further details. Marijuana growers sometimes illegally tap into electricity sources. Solar panels cover the roof of Nolan’s home.

Nolan had not been charged as of Friday, Jan. 22.

Nolan did not return a phone message seeking comment or respond to messages left at his home.

The residence, just outside the Corona city limits, is on a lot that has a large metal structure in the back.

The Sheriff’s Department has declined to provide any additional details of the investigation.

Nolan was a councilman from 2004 to 2012 and was a controversial figure, holding fast to his demand for an audit of the Corona Police Department and sticking up for friends who were in trouble to the point that it brought trouble to Nolan himself. He also suffered the failure of two Backwoods BBQ restaurants and filed for bankruptcy.

He was a police officer from 1982-1994, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Related Articles
- California regulators say cannabis billboards along interstate highways must come down
- Marijuana: 4 things to watch for in California in 2021
Pandemic slashes 31% of Southern California workers in eateries, tourism, entertainment

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:37:36 +0000

Nearly one-third of the workers in Southern California’s “fun” industries have been cut in the pandemic era — job losses six times bigger than all other industries.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 35,300 fewer workers in December, leaving the region with 7.25 million total jobs — or 611,800 positions short of pre-coronavirus staffing. Total employment in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 8% below February, the last time the economy wasn’t shackled by the virus.

December’s job losses are directly tied to what I call “fun” industries: eateries, tourism and entertainment. These once-booming businesses employed 660,000 last month — after losing 60,200 in just one month.

But that was just another sad chapter in what was a horrible 2020 story for these job niches. Since February, payrolls for fun businesses were slashed by 289,200 — or 31% fewer workers in December than pre-pandemic employment.

The tally of local job losses would have been uglier if it wasn’t for bosses in all other industries in the region, who employ 6.59 million. These businesses actually added 24,900 employees last month. Yes, that’s still down 322,600 from February but the cuts bring employment to just 5% below pre-pandemic levels.

Southern California’s economy — especially these consumer-facing businesses — has been whipsawed by changing efforts designed to slow the spread of a pandemic that’s proven hard to conquer.

Attempts to reopen the statewide economy in summer and fall were followed by surging coronavirus infections and deaths. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented renewed business limitations to battle the pandemic’s latest upswing, including limiting customers at restaurants and tourist locations.

Leaving California? Here’s a ranking of the best states for relocation.

The fun industries’ bleak employment picture can be found across the four-county region.

Los Angeles County: Lost 23,900 jobs overall last month. putting its 4.23 million total jobs 9% below February. “Fun” jobs were 32% below pre-virus level vs. a 6% decrease in all other industries.

Orange County: Lost 8,100 jobs last month to 1.55 million — 7% below February. “Fun” jobs were 26% below pre-virus vs. 5% elsewhere.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties: Lost 3,300 jobs last month to 1.46 million — 6% below February. “Fun” jobs were 34% below pre-virus vs. 2% elsewhere.

Or look at the sharp employment gap this way: Service jobs in Southern California’s “fun” industries — work that can’t be done remotely — equal 9% of Southern California employment. Yet these workers have suffered 47% of pandemic era’s job losses.

And please note, this is quite a reversal from the previous five years when “fun” employment jumped by 18% vs. 8% job growth in the rest of the economy.

My trusty spreadsheet also tells me cuts in these “fun” industries helped push Southern California’s jobless rate for December up to 9.7% from a revised 9.2% the previous month and 4.1% in February. Note: The Great Recession had a 12.9% local jobless peak.

Around the region, Los Angeles County unemployment was 10.7% last month — unchanged in a month but up from 4.6% in February. Orange County was 7.4% vs. 6.4% the previous month and 2.8% in February. Inland Empire was 9.1% vs. 7.9% the previous month and 4% in February.

Here’s how employment fared in those hard-hit local “fun” industries …

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Restaurants: 479,800 jobs — down 43,900 in a month and down 204,100 from February, or 30% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hotels: 52,900 jobs — down 4,700 in a month and down 40,000 from February, or 43% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 124,300 jobs — down 11,600 in a month and down 45,100 from February, or 27% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hiring trends in other key SoCal job categories …

Manufacturing: 546,500 jobs — down 1,600 in a month and down 47,600 from February, or 8% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Government: 976,700 jobs — down 3,200 in a month and down 59,200 from February, or 6% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Business services: 1,088,200 jobs — up 12,500 in a month and down 41,500 from February, or 4% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Healthcare, personal services: 1,126,100 jobs — up 6,600 in a month and down 28,200 from February, or 2% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Real estate, construction, finance: 490,300 jobs — up 2,400 in a month and down 5,500 from February, or 1% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Retailing: 744,800 jobs last month — that’s up 5,800 in a month and down 1,300 from February. That puts staffing 0.2% below what it was before coronavirus hit.

Transportation/warehouses: 391,800 jobs — up 10,600 in a month and up 17,100 from February, or 5% above of pre-pandemic employment.
Related Articles
Pandemic slashes 31% of Southern California workers in eateries, tourism, entertainment

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:37:36 +0000

Nearly one-third of the workers in Southern California’s “fun” industries have been cut in the pandemic era — job losses six times bigger than all other industries.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 35,300 fewer workers in December, leaving the region with 7.25 million total jobs — or 611,800 positions short of pre-coronavirus staffing. Total employment in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 8% below February, the last time the economy wasn’t shackled by the virus.

December’s job losses are directly tied to what I call “fun” industries: eateries, tourism and entertainment. These once-booming businesses employed 660,000 last month — after losing 60,200 in just one month.

But that was just another sad chapter in what was a horrible 2020 story for these job niches. Since February, payrolls for fun businesses were slashed by 289,200 — or 31% fewer workers in December than pre-pandemic employment.

The tally of local job losses would have been uglier if it wasn’t for bosses in all other industries in the region, who employ 6.59 million. These businesses actually added 24,900 employees last month. Yes, that’s still down 322,600 from February but the cuts bring employment to just 5% below pre-pandemic levels.

Southern California’s economy — especially these consumer-facing businesses — has been whipsawed by changing efforts designed to slow the spread of a pandemic that’s proven hard to conquer.

Attempts to reopen the statewide economy in summer and fall were followed by surging coronavirus infections and deaths. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented renewed business limitations to battle the pandemic’s latest upswing, including limiting customers at restaurants and tourist locations.

Leaving California? Here’s a ranking of the best states for relocation.

The fun industries’ bleak employment picture can be found across the four-county region.

Los Angeles County: Lost 23,900 jobs overall last month. putting its 4.23 million total jobs 9% below February. “Fun” jobs were 32% below pre-virus level vs. a 6% decrease in all other industries.

Orange County: Lost 8,100 jobs last month to 1.55 million — 7% below February. “Fun” jobs were 26% below pre-virus vs. 5% elsewhere.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties: Lost 3,300 jobs last month to 1.46 million — 6% below February. “Fun” jobs were 34% below pre-virus vs. 2% elsewhere.

Or look at the sharp employment gap this way: Service jobs in Southern California’s “fun” industries — work that can’t be done remotely — equal 9% of Southern California employment. Yet these workers have suffered 47% of pandemic era’s job losses.

And please note, this is quite a reversal from the previous five years when “fun” employment jumped by 18% vs. 8% job growth in the rest of the economy.

My trusty spreadsheet also tells me cuts in these “fun” industries helped push Southern California’s jobless rate for December up to 9.7% from a revised 9.2% the previous month and 4.1% in February. Note: The Great Recession had a 12.9% local jobless peak.

Around the region, Los Angeles County unemployment was 10.7% last month — unchanged in a month but up from 4.6% in February. Orange County was 7.4% vs. 6.4% the previous month and 2.8% in February. Inland Empire was 9.1% vs. 7.9% the previous month and 4% in February.

Here’s how employment fared in those hard-hit local “fun” industries …

Get The Home Stretch newsletter to follow regional housing trends. Subscribe here!

Restaurants: 479,800 jobs — down 43,900 in a month and down 204,100 from February, or 30% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hotels: 52,900 jobs — down 4,700 in a month and down 40,000 from February, or 43% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 124,300 jobs — down 11,600 in a month and down 45,100 from February, or 27% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hiring trends in other key SoCal job categories …

Manufacturing: 546,500 jobs — down 1,600 in a month and down 47,600 from February, or 8% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Government: 976,700 jobs — down 3,200 in a month and down 59,200 from February, or 6% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Business services: 1,088,200 jobs — up 12,500 in a month and down 41,500 from February, or 4% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Healthcare, personal services: 1,126,100 jobs — up 6,600 in a month and down 28,200 from February, or 2% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Real estate, construction, finance: 490,300 jobs — up 2,400 in a month and down 5,500 from February, or 1% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Retailing: 744,800 jobs last month — that’s up 5,800 in a month and down 1,300 from February. That puts staffing 0.2% below what it was before coronavirus hit.

Transportation/warehouses: 391,800 jobs — up 10,600 in a month and up 17,100 from February, or 5% above of pre-pandemic employment.
Related Articles
Pandemic slashes 31% of Southern California workers in eateries, tourism, entertainment

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:37:36 +0000

Nearly one-third of the workers in Southern California’s “fun” industries have been cut in the pandemic era — job losses six times bigger than all other industries.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 35,300 fewer workers in December, leaving the region with 7.25 million total jobs — or 611,800 positions short of pre-coronavirus staffing. Total employment in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 8% below February, the last time the economy wasn’t shackled by the virus.

December’s job losses are directly tied to what I call “fun” industries: eateries, tourism and entertainment. These once-booming businesses employed 660,000 last month — after losing 60,200 in just one month.

But that was just another sad chapter in what was a horrible 2020 story for these job niches. Since February, payrolls for fun businesses were slashed by 289,200 — or 31% fewer workers in December than pre-pandemic employment.

The tally of local job losses would have been uglier if it wasn’t for bosses in all other industries in the region, who employ 6.59 million. These businesses actually added 24,900 employees last month. Yes, that’s still down 322,600 from February but the cuts bring employment to just 5% below pre-pandemic levels.

Southern California’s economy — especially these consumer-facing businesses — has been whipsawed by changing efforts designed to slow the spread of a pandemic that’s proven hard to conquer.

Attempts to reopen the statewide economy in summer and fall were followed by surging coronavirus infections and deaths. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented renewed business limitations to battle the pandemic’s latest upswing, including limiting customers at restaurants and tourist locations.

Leaving California? Here’s a ranking of the best states for relocation.

The fun industries’ bleak employment picture can be found across the four-county region.

Los Angeles County: Lost 23,900 jobs overall last month. putting its 4.23 million total jobs 9% below February. “Fun” jobs were 32% below pre-virus level vs. a 6% decrease in all other industries.

Orange County: Lost 8,100 jobs last month to 1.55 million — 7% below February. “Fun” jobs were 26% below pre-virus vs. 5% elsewhere.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties: Lost 3,300 jobs last month to 1.46 million — 6% below February. “Fun” jobs were 34% below pre-virus vs. 2% elsewhere.

Or look at the sharp employment gap this way: Service jobs in Southern California’s “fun” industries — work that can’t be done remotely — equal 9% of Southern California employment. Yet these workers have suffered 47% of pandemic era’s job losses.

And please note, this is quite a reversal from the previous five years when “fun” employment jumped by 18% vs. 8% job growth in the rest of the economy.

My trusty spreadsheet also tells me cuts in these “fun” industries helped push Southern California’s jobless rate for December up to 9.7% from a revised 9.2% the previous month and 4.1% in February. Note: The Great Recession had a 12.9% local jobless peak.

Around the region, Los Angeles County unemployment was 10.7% last month — unchanged in a month but up from 4.6% in February. Orange County was 7.4% vs. 6.4% the previous month and 2.8% in February. Inland Empire was 9.1% vs. 7.9% the previous month and 4% in February.

Here’s how employment fared in those hard-hit local “fun” industries …

Get The Home Stretch newsletter to follow regional housing trends. Subscribe here!

Restaurants: 479,800 jobs — down 43,900 in a month and down 204,100 from February, or 30% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hotels: 52,900 jobs — down 4,700 in a month and down 40,000 from February, or 43% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 124,300 jobs — down 11,600 in a month and down 45,100 from February, or 27% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hiring trends in other key SoCal job categories …

Manufacturing: 546,500 jobs — down 1,600 in a month and down 47,600 from February, or 8% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Government: 976,700 jobs — down 3,200 in a month and down 59,200 from February, or 6% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Business services: 1,088,200 jobs — up 12,500 in a month and down 41,500 from February, or 4% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Healthcare, personal services: 1,126,100 jobs — up 6,600 in a month and down 28,200 from February, or 2% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Real estate, construction, finance: 490,300 jobs — up 2,400 in a month and down 5,500 from February, or 1% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Retailing: 744,800 jobs last month — that’s up 5,800 in a month and down 1,300 from February. That puts staffing 0.2% below what it was before coronavirus hit.

Transportation/warehouses: 391,800 jobs — up 10,600 in a month and up 17,100 from February, or 5% above of pre-pandemic employment.
Related Articles
Hear a historical whodunnit at virtual Temecula Valley Historical Society meeting

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:08:15 +0000

This photo shows the Temecula train station, from which telegraph messages were sent before there were telephones in the Temecula Valley. (Courtesy of the Temecula Valley Historical Society)

Richard Fox, a founding member of the Temecula Valley Historical Society, will present “The Shooting and Death of Asa C. Davis” when the Historical Society holds a Zoom meeting 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25.

Fox will tell the story of a real-life whodunnit, dating back to before there were telephones in the Temecula Valley. At that time, unless someone was traveling to carry news, the only fast way to send a message was by telegraph, from the Temecula train station on Pujol Street, according to a news release.

Fox’s story is of an exchange of harsh words, a shot fired, the transmission of a message and the aftermath of a shooting that happened long ago in Temecula.

To attend the meeting and find out how the story ends, go to www.temeculavalleyhistoricalsociety.org, where the Zoom link will be posted.

Fox, who is retired from a career in the printing industry, is a past president of the Temecula Valley Historical Society and is editor of the society’s monthly newsletter.

For information, contact Rebecca Farnbach, program chairman, at 951-775-6057 or info@temeculahistoricalsociety.org.
As rain moves into Southern California, wildfire burn areas on alert

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:39:54 +0000

Public safety officials are closely watching a chilly, three-pronged storm that moved into Southern California Friday, Jan. 22, whose heaviest precipitation was expected to last through Monday.

It’s uncertain whether there will be enough heavy rain, or accumulation of rain, to dislodge mud and other debris from wildfire burn areas where the vegetation that holds together mountainsides has been incinerated.

“The thing that concerns us is the amount of rainfall that is coming down at a particular time. When we get those heavy rains, when we have inches and inches over a short period of time, that’s when we start having those mud and debris flows,” said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg Barta.

The National Weather Service had not issued any flood advisories as of Friday afternoon, and the Riverside County Emergency Management Department tweeted that the rain is unlikely to produce dangerous flows.
- Utility workers install a new pole just west of Forest Falls within the El Dorado fire burn scar area Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- A woman keeps her hat from blowing off as she walks around North Lake in the Woodbridge community in Irvine, CA on Friday, January 22, 2021. A storm system was expected to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
- The El Dorado fire burn scar sits above homes in Forest Falls Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Rain and snow are expected in the area through Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- Gulls keep watch over North Lake in the Woodbridge community in Irvine, CA as clouds form over the Santa Ana Mountains on Friday, January 22, 2021. A storm system was expected to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
- After days of wind and warmer weather, clouds begin to move in bringing a chance of rain and cooler temperatures at Balboa Lake in Lake Balboa on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News)
- New signs have been installed in Forest Falls to warn residents and visitors of possible debris flows in the area from last September’s El Dorado fire which burned within feet of some homes in the area as seen Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- Sand sits for Redlands residents at the city yard Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Though there was plenty of sand, no bags or shovel could be found. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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But, cautioned Eric Sherwin, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, “The chance is very real. We’ve lost the natural ability for a hillside to absorb and hold moisture” and storms have become less predictable.

Officials urged residents to prepare their homes and motorists to expect rain and snow.

According to the National Weather Service, we can expect rain as early as tomorrow. If your home is prone to flooding, the following OCFA fire stations have sand & bags available to residents. You will have to bring a shovel. #rain #ocwx https://t.co/tsPCcdPKY9 pic.twitter.com/eA4rK0RhsJ

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) January 22, 2021

Along with the rain, cooler temperatures are moving in. High temperatures were not expected to top 60 degrees in Southern California valleys in the next several days. High temperatures in the mountains were forecast to range from the upper 20s to upper 30s.

The first round of precipitation was to arrive Friday and forecast to continue into Saturday night, a storm that could bring up to an inch of rain in the mountains and lesser amounts elsewhere, along with several inches of snow above 4,500 feet.

More precipitation is expected Sunday night and forecast to hang around into Monday when the snow level could drop to 2,000 feet and accumulate a foot deep or so.

The weather service is warning of reduced visibility, slippery roads and possible downed trees and power lines in the mountains through Sunday night.

The third round, in a still-developing forecast, expected to bring lighter rain late Wednesday.

Caltrans wrapped up roadside storm preparations Thursday night, de-icing highways, cleaning out drainages and culverts and working on hillsides to limit the possibility of falling rocks, said Terri Kasinga, a spokeswoman for District 8, which covers the Inland Empire. She reminded anyone heading to the mountains to enjoy snow play to bring tire chains and not to block the roads or leave their trash behind.

Sand sits for Redlands residents at the city yard Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Though there was plenty of sand, no bags or shovel could be found. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Barta urged people who plan to stock up on supplies to do so before the storms hit in earnest because traffic collisions typically increase when it rains and snows. Drivers should slow down and watch for pockets of water that could cause a car to hydroplane, he said.

The burn scars from the Silverado, Bond and Blue Ridge fires in Orange County; the Apple and El Dorado fires in the Inland Empire; and the Bobcat fire in Los Angeles County could be prone to flooding.

“If you live in homes in jeopardy, make sure drains are cleared and sandbags or other barriers are in place,” Barta said.
Related Articles
Many cities and counties have sandbags and/or sand available.

The OCFA website lists fire stations where supplies are available, as does the Los Angeles County Fire Department website. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department stations have a limited supply of sandbags. All San Bernardino County Fire Department stations have sandbags, and some have sand.

Redlands fire stations have sandbags, and residents can fill them at the City Yard, 1270 W. Park Ave., where sand and shovels are available.
As rain moves into Southern California, wildfire burn areas on alert

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:39:54 +0000

Public safety officials are closely watching a chilly, three-pronged storm that moved into Southern California Friday, Jan. 22, whose heaviest precipitation was expected to last through Monday.

It’s uncertain whether there will be enough heavy rain, or accumulation of rain, to dislodge mud and other debris from wildfire burn areas where the vegetation that holds together mountainsides has been incinerated.

“The thing that concerns us is the amount of rainfall that is coming down at a particular time. When we get those heavy rains, when we have inches and inches over a short period of time, that’s when we start having those mud and debris flows,” said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg Barta.

The National Weather Service had not issued any flood advisories as of Friday afternoon, and the Riverside County Emergency Management Department tweeted that the rain is unlikely to produce dangerous flows.
- Utility workers install a new pole just west of Forest Falls within the El Dorado fire burn scar area Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- A woman keeps her hat from blowing off as she walks around North Lake in the Woodbridge community in Irvine, CA on Friday, January 22, 2021. A storm system was expected to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
- Sound
  The gallery will resume inseconds
- The El Dorado fire burn scar sits above homes in Forest Falls Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Rain and snow are expected in the area through Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- Gulls keep watch over North Lake in the Woodbridge community in Irvine, CA as clouds form over the Santa Ana Mountains on Friday, January 22, 2021. A storm system was expected to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
- After days of wind and warmer weather, clouds begin to move in bringing a chance of rain and cooler temperatures at Balboa Lake in Lake Balboa on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News)
- New signs have been installed in Forest Falls to warn residents and visitors of possible debris flows in the area from last September’s El Dorado fire which burned within feet of some homes in the area as seen Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- Sand sits for Redlands residents at the city yard Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Though there was plenty of sand, no bags or shovel could be found. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
of
Expand
But, cautioned Eric Sherwin, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, “The chance is very real. We’ve lost the natural ability for a hillside to absorb and hold moisture” and storms have become less predictable.

Officials urged residents to prepare their homes and motorists to expect rain and snow.

According to the National Weather Service, we can expect rain as early as tomorrow. If your home is prone to flooding, the following OCFA fire stations have sand & bags available to residents. You will have to bring a shovel. #rain #ocwx https://t.co/tsPCcdPKY9 pic.twitter.com/eA4rK0RhsJ

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) January 22, 2021

Along with the rain, cooler temperatures are moving in. High temperatures were not expected to top 60 degrees in Southern California valleys in the next several days. High temperatures in the mountains were forecast to range from the upper 20s to upper 30s.

The first round of precipitation was to arrive Friday and forecast to continue into Saturday night, a storm that could bring up to an inch of rain in the mountains and lesser amounts elsewhere, along with several inches of snow above 4,500 feet.

More precipitation is expected Sunday night and forecast to hang around into Monday when the snow level could drop to 2,000 feet and accumulate a foot deep or so.

The weather service is warning of reduced visibility, slippery roads and possible downed trees and power lines in the mountains through Sunday night.

The third round, in a still-developing forecast, expected to bring lighter rain late Wednesday.

Caltrans wrapped up roadside storm preparations Thursday night, de-icing highways, cleaning out drainages and culverts and working on hillsides to limit the possibility of falling rocks, said Terri Kasinga, a spokeswoman for District 8, which covers the Inland Empire. She reminded anyone heading to the mountains to enjoy snow play to bring tire chains and not to block the roads or leave their trash behind.

Sand sits for Redlands residents at the city yard Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Though there was plenty of sand, no bags or shovel could be found. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Barta urged people who plan to stock up on supplies to do so before the storms hit in earnest because traffic collisions typically increase when it rains and snows. Drivers should slow down and watch for pockets of water that could cause a car to hydroplane, he said.

The burn scars from the Silverado, Bond and Blue Ridge fires in Orange County; the Apple and El Dorado fires in the Inland Empire; and the Bobcat fire in Los Angeles County could be prone to flooding.

“If you live in homes in jeopardy, make sure drains are cleared and sandbags or other barriers are in place,” Barta said.
Related Articles
Many cities and counties have sandbags and/or sand available.

The OCFA website lists fire stations where supplies are available, as does the Los Angeles County Fire Department website. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department stations have a limited supply of sandbags. All San Bernardino County Fire Department stations have sandbags, and some have sand.

Redlands fire stations have sandbags, and residents can fill them at the City Yard, 1270 W. Park Ave., where sand and shovels are available.
As rain moves into Southern California, wildfire burn areas on alert

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:39:53 +0000

Public safety officials are closely watching a chilly, three-pronged storm that moved into Southern California Friday, Jan. 22, whose heaviest precipitation was expected to last through Monday.

It’s uncertain whether there will be enough heavy rain, or accumulation of rain, to dislodge mud and other debris from wildfire burn areas where the vegetation that holds together mountainsides has been incinerated.

“The thing that concerns us is the amount of rainfall that is coming down at a particular time. When we get those heavy rains, when we have inches and inches over a short period of time, that’s when we start having those mud and debris flows,” said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg Barta.

The National Weather Service had not issued any flood advisories as of Friday afternoon, and the Riverside County Emergency Management Department tweeted that the rain is unlikely to produce dangerous flows.
- Utility workers install a new pole just west of Forest Falls within the El Dorado fire burn scar area Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- A woman keeps her hat from blowing off as she walks around North Lake in the Woodbridge community in Irvine, CA on Friday, January 22, 2021. A storm system was expected to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
- Sound
  The gallery will resume inseconds
- The El Dorado fire burn scar sits above homes in Forest Falls Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Rain and snow are expected in the area through Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- Gulls keep watch over North Lake in the Woodbridge community in Irvine, CA as clouds form over the Santa Ana Mountains on Friday, January 22, 2021. A storm system was expected to move through the area. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
- After days of wind and warmer weather, clouds begin to move in bringing a chance of rain and cooler temperatures at Balboa Lake in Lake Balboa on Friday, January 22, 2021. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News)
- New signs have been installed in Forest Falls to warn residents and visitors of possible debris flows in the area from last September’s El Dorado fire which burned within feet of some homes in the area as seen Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
- Sand sits for Redlands residents at the city yard Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Though there was plenty of sand, no bags or shovel could be found. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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But, cautioned Eric Sherwin, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, “The chance is very real. We’ve lost the natural ability for a hillside to absorb and hold moisture” and storms have become less predictable.

Officials urged residents to prepare their homes and motorists to expect rain and snow.

According to the National Weather Service, we can expect rain as early as tomorrow. If your home is prone to flooding, the following OCFA fire stations have sand & bags available to residents. You will have to bring a shovel. #rain #ocwx https://t.co/tsPCcdPKY9 pic.twitter.com/eA4rK0RhsJ

— OCFA PIO (@OCFA_PIO) January 22, 2021

Along with the rain, cooler temperatures are moving in. High temperatures were not expected to top 60 degrees in Southern California valleys in the next several days. High temperatures in the mountains were forecast to range from the upper 20s to upper 30s.

The first round of precipitation was to arrive Friday and forecast to continue into Saturday night, a storm that could bring up to an inch of rain in the mountains and lesser amounts elsewhere, along with several inches of snow above 4,500 feet.

More precipitation is expected Sunday night and forecast to hang around into Monday when the snow level could drop to 2,000 feet and accumulate a foot deep or so.

The weather service is warning of reduced visibility, slippery roads and possible downed trees and power lines in the mountains through Sunday night.

The third round, in a still-developing forecast, expected to bring lighter rain late Wednesday.

Caltrans wrapped up roadside storm preparations Thursday night, de-icing highways, cleaning out drainages and culverts and working on hillsides to limit the possibility of falling rocks, said Terri Kasinga, a spokeswoman for District 8, which covers the Inland Empire. She reminded anyone heading to the mountains to enjoy snow play to bring tire chains and not to block the roads or leave their trash behind.

Sand sits for Redlands residents at the city yard Friday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2021. Though there was plenty of sand, no bags or shovel could be found. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Barta urged people who plan to stock up on supplies to do so before the storms hit in earnest because traffic collisions typically increase when it rains and snows. Drivers should slow down and watch for pockets of water that could cause a car to hydroplane, he said.

The burn scars from the Silverado, Bond and Blue Ridge fires in Orange County; the Apple and El Dorado fires in the Inland Empire; and the Bobcat fire in Los Angeles County could be prone to flooding.

“If you live in homes in jeopardy, make sure drains are cleared and sandbags or other barriers are in place,” Barta said.
Related Articles
Many cities and counties have sandbags and/or sand available.

The OCFA website lists fire stations where supplies are available, as does the Los Angeles County Fire Department website. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department stations have a limited supply of sandbags. All San Bernardino County Fire Department stations have sandbags, and some have sand.

Redlands fire stations have sandbags, and residents can fill them at the City Yard, 1270 W. Park Ave., where sand and shovels are available.
Rodents, roaches, broken cooler: Restaurant closures, inspections in Riverside County, Jan. 14-21

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:41:12 +0000

Here are the restaurants and other food facilities that Riverside County Department of Environmental Health inspectors temporarily shut down because of imminent health hazards between Jan. 14 and 21, 2021. If no reopening date is mentioned, the department had not listed that facility as reopened as of this publication.

El Mariachi Taco Shop, 1410 Beaumont Ave. Suite D-1, Beaumont
- Closed: Jan. 20
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: Inadequate refrigeration. The inspector visited in response to two complaints about cleanliness and COVID-19 measures, and found that the walk-in cooler wasn’t functioning properly and food inside was at unsafe temperatures.
- Reopened: Jan. 21 after the cooler was repaired. Some food was still not quite cold enough so the restaurant was advised to lower the unit’s temperature.
- New grade: 98/A, passing
The Rooster and The Pig, 356 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
- Closed: Jan. 20
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: Rodent infestation. An inspector visited in response to a complaint about rodents and other issues. The inspector found numerous rat droppings in the dry storage room, including in food packaging, and one package of uncooked rice had holes in it. Rat traps had been set out on the floor.
Toi Moi, 10181 Hole Ave., Riverside
- Closed: Jan. 20
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: Cockroach infestation. The inspector saw multiple live and dead roaches in the food prep, food storage and utensil storage areas. There was also “roach powder sprinkled liberally” in those areas, subjecting those items to contamination.
Taqueria Azteca, 5959 Arlington Ave., Riverside
- Closed: Jan. 14
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: No hot water. The restaurant operator told the inspector they’d noticed the lack of hot water the night before and were planning on calling the gas company. The restaurant was not preparing any food or washing any dishes — which they should not have been without hot water — while the inspector was there.
- Reopened: Jan. 15 after hot water was restored
Non-closure inspections of note

Here are selected inspections at facilities that weren’t closed but had other significant issues.

Pokeport, at 2150 E. California Ave. Suite 105 in Corona, was inspected Jan. 19 and received a failing grade of 80/B with one critical violation. Dishes were being washed but not sanitized, and the operator said that was because there was no drain stopper for the sink’s sanitizer compartment. Among the 11 lesser violations, employees were eating and drinking at a food-prep table, rice and boba were at unsafe temperatures and there was food debris inside the ice machine. This was the restaurant’s second failed inspection in five months, so it now faces an administrative hearing.

Updates from past weeks

The restaurant at The Golf Club at Rancho California, at 39500 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Murrieta, which failed a Jan. 13 inspection and was closed because of a rodent infestation, was permitted to reopen Jan. 15. It passed a follow-up inspection Jan. 20 with a score of 99/A.
Related Articles
About this list

This list is published online on Fridays. Any updates as restaurants are reopened will be included in next week’s list.

All food facilities in the county are routinely inspected to ensure they meet health codes. A facility loses four points for each critical violation — and may have to close if the violation can’t be corrected immediately — and one or two points for minor violations. An A grade (90 to 100 points) is passing. Grades of B (80 to 89 points) and C (79 or below) are failing and typically require the proprietor to make improvements and be re-inspected.

For more information on inspections of these or any restaurants in Riverside County, visit restaurantgrading.rivcoeh.org. To submit a health complaint about a restaurant, go to www.rivcoeh.org/Complaint or call 888-722-4234 during business hours or 951-782-2968 after-hours.

Sign up for The Localist, our daily email newsletter with handpicked stories relevant to where you live. Subscribe here.
Rodents, roaches, broken cooler: Restaurant closures, inspections in Riverside County, Jan. 14-21

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:41:12 +0000

Here are the restaurants and other food facilities that Riverside County Department of Environmental Health inspectors temporarily shut down because of imminent health hazards between Jan. 14 and 21, 2021. If no reopening date is mentioned, the department had not listed that facility as reopened as of this publication.

El Mariachi Taco Shop, 1410 Beaumont Ave. Suite D-1, Beaumont
- Closed: Jan. 20
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: Inadequate refrigeration. The inspector visited in response to two complaints about cleanliness and COVID-19 measures, and found that the walk-in cooler wasn’t functioning properly and food inside was at unsafe temperatures.
- Reopened: Jan. 21 after the cooler was repaired. Some food was still not quite cold enough so the restaurant was advised to lower the unit’s temperature.
- New grade: 98/A, passing
The Rooster and The Pig, 356 S. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
- Closed: Jan. 20
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: Rodent infestation. An inspector visited in response to a complaint about rodents and other issues. The inspector found numerous rat droppings in the dry storage room, including in food packaging, and one package of uncooked rice had holes in it. Rat traps had been set out on the floor.
Toi Moi, 10181 Hole Ave., Riverside
- Closed: Jan. 20
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: Cockroach infestation. The inspector saw multiple live and dead roaches in the food prep, food storage and utensil storage areas. There was also “roach powder sprinkled liberally” in those areas, subjecting those items to contamination.
Taqueria Azteca, 5959 Arlington Ave., Riverside
- Closed: Jan. 14
- Grade: Not graded
- Reason: No hot water. The restaurant operator told the inspector they’d noticed the lack of hot water the night before and were planning on calling the gas company. The restaurant was not preparing any food or washing any dishes — which they should not have been without hot water — while the inspector was there.
- Reopened: Jan. 15 after hot water was restored
Non-closure inspections of note

Here are selected inspections at facilities that weren’t closed but had other significant issues.

Pokeport, at 2150 E. California Ave. Suite 105 in Corona, was inspected Jan. 19 and received a failing grade of 80/B with one critical violation. Dishes were being washed but not sanitized, and the operator said that was because there was no drain stopper for the sink’s sanitizer compartment. Among the 11 lesser violations, employees were eating and drinking at a food-prep table, rice and boba were at unsafe temperatures and there was food debris inside the ice machine. This was the restaurant’s second failed inspection in five months, so it now faces an administrative hearing.

Updates from past weeks

The restaurant at The Golf Club at Rancho California, at 39500 Robert Trent Jones Parkway in Murrieta, which failed a Jan. 13 inspection and was closed because of a rodent infestation, was permitted to reopen Jan. 15. It passed a follow-up inspection Jan. 20 with a score of 99/A.
Related Articles
About this list

This list is published online on Fridays. Any updates as restaurants are reopened will be included in next week’s list.

All food facilities in the county are routinely inspected to ensure they meet health codes. A facility loses four points for each critical violation — and may have to close if the violation can’t be corrected immediately — and one or two points for minor violations. An A grade (90 to 100 points) is passing. Grades of B (80 to 89 points) and C (79 or below) are failing and typically require the proprietor to make improvements and be re-inspected.

For more information on inspections of these or any restaurants in Riverside County, visit restaurantgrading.rivcoeh.org. To submit a health complaint about a restaurant, go to www.rivcoeh.org/Complaint or call 888-722-4234 during business hours or 951-782-2968 after-hours.

Sign up for The Localist, our daily email newsletter with handpicked stories relevant to where you live. Subscribe here.
Riverside County reports another 38 dead from coronavirus

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:19:37 +0000

Thousands more Riverside County residents have been diagnosed with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

As of Friday, Jan. 22, another 2,544 cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county, bringing the total to 258,352.

Another 38 people were reported to have died from the disease, bringing the total of COVID-19 deaths in the county to 2,777.

As of Friday, 1,570 more people were considered to have recovered, for a total of 177,003.

And another 15,588 COVID-19 tests were administered, for a total of 2.061 million to date.

Here are the numbers as of Friday, according to state and county public health officials.

Riverside County

Confirmed cases: 258,352 total, up 2,544 from Thursday, averaging 3,493 reported per day in the past week

Deaths: 2,777 total, up 38 from Thursday, averaging 37.1 reported per day in the past week

Hospital survey: 1,455 confirmed and 123 suspected patients hospitalized Thursday, including 330 confirmed and 12 suspected patients in the ICU. The number of confirmed patients is down 6.9% from a week earlier.
Related Articles
People tested: 2,061,842 total, up 15,588 from Thursday, averaging 17,542 reported per day in the past week

Recovered cases: 177,003 total, up 1,570 from Thursday, averaging 3,642 per day in the past week

Metrics tracked by the state:
- - ICU availability: 0.0% across Southern California
  - New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 148.4
  - Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 95.9
  - Test positivity rate: 23.5% (25.1% in socioeconomically challenged neighborhoods)
  - What that means: Southern California is under a stay-home order because of the low ICU availability. When that is lifted, Riverside County will return to a color-coded tier with restrictions based on the other metrics.
To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community, click here.

Here is a look at how the county’s numbers have changed each day:

Staff writer Nikie Johnson contributed to this report.
Riverside County reports another 38 dead from coronavirus

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:19:37 +0000

Thousands more Riverside County residents have been diagnosed with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

As of Friday, Jan. 22, another 2,544 cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county, bringing the total to 258,352.

Another 38 people were reported to have died from the disease, bringing the total of COVID-19 deaths in the county to 2,777.

As of Friday, 1,570 more people were considered to have recovered, for a total of 177,003.

And another 15,588 COVID-19 tests were administered, for a total of 2.061 million to date.

Here are the numbers as of Friday, according to state and county public health officials.

Riverside County

Confirmed cases: 258,352 total, up 2,544 from Thursday, averaging 3,493 reported per day in the past week

Deaths: 2,777 total, up 38 from Thursday, averaging 37.1 reported per day in the past week

Hospital survey: 1,455 confirmed and 123 suspected patients hospitalized Thursday, including 330 confirmed and 12 suspected patients in the ICU. The number of confirmed patients is down 6.9% from a week earlier.
Related Articles
People tested: 2,061,842 total, up 15,588 from Thursday, averaging 17,542 reported per day in the past week

Recovered cases: 177,003 total, up 1,570 from Thursday, averaging 3,642 per day in the past week

Metrics tracked by the state:
- - ICU availability: 0.0% across Southern California
  - New cases per day per 100,000 residents: 148.4
  - Case rate adjusted for testing volume: 95.9
  - Test positivity rate: 23.5% (25.1% in socioeconomically challenged neighborhoods)
  - What that means: Southern California is under a stay-home order because of the low ICU availability. When that is lifted, Riverside County will return to a color-coded tier with restrictions based on the other metrics.
To see a map and list of cases, deaths and per-capita rates by community, click here.

Here is a look at how the county’s numbers have changed each day:

Staff writer Nikie Johnson contributed to this report.
Pandemic slashes 31% of SoCal workers in eateries, tourism, entertainment

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:02:14 +0000

Nearly one-third of the workers in Southern California’s “fun” industries have been cut in the pandemic era — job losses six times bigger than all other industries.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 35,300 fewer workers in December, leaving the region with 7.25 million total jobs — or 611,800 positions short of pre-coronavirus staffing. Total employment in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 8% below February, the last time the economy wasn’t shackled by the virus.

December’s job losses are directly tied to what I call “fun” industries: eateries, tourism and entertainment. These once-booming businesses employed 660,000 last month — after losing 60,200 in just one month.

But that was just another sad chapter in what was a horrible 2020 story for these job niches. Since February, payrolls for fun businesses were slashed by 289,200 — or 31% fewer workers in December than pre-pandemic employment.

The tally of local job losses would have been uglier if it wasn’t for bosses in all other industries in the region, who employ 6.59 million. These businesses actually added 24,900 employees last month. Yes, that’s still down 322,600 from February but the cuts bring employment to just 5% below pre-pandemic levels.

Southern California’s economy — especially these consumer-facing businesses — has been whipsawed by changing efforts designed to slow the spread of a pandemic that’s proven hard to conquer.

Attempts to reopen the statewide economy in summer and fall were followed by surging coronavirus infections and deaths. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented renewed business limitations to battle the pandemic’s latest upswing, including limiting customers at restaurants and tourist locations.

Leaving California? Here’s a ranking of the best states for relocation.

The fun industries’ bleak employment picture cane be found across the four-county region.

Los Angeles County: Lost 23,900 jobs overall last month. putting its 4.23 million total jobs 9% below February. “Fun” jobs were 32% below pre-virus level vs. a 6% decrease in all other industries.

Orange County: Lost 8,100 jobs last month to 1.55 million — 7% below February. “Fun” jobs were 26% below pre-virus vs. 5% elsewhere.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties: Lost 3,300 jobs last month to 1.46 million — 6% below February. “Fun” jobs were 34% below pre-virus vs. 2% elsewhere.

Or look at the sharp employment gap this way: Service jobs in Southern California’s “fun” industries — work that can’t be done remotely — equal 9% of Southern California employment. Yet these workers have suffered 47% of pandemic era’s job losses.

And please note, this is quite a reversal from the previous five years when “fun” employment jumped by 18% vs. 8% job growth in the rest of the economy.

My trusty spreadsheet also tells me cuts in these “fun” industries helped push Southern California’s jobless rate for December up to 9.7% from a revised 9.2% the previous month and 4.1% in February. Note: The Great Recession had a 12.9% local jobless peak.

Around the region, Los Angeles County unemployment was 10.7% last month — unchanged in a month but up from 4.6% in February. Orange County was 7.4% vs. 6.4% the previous month and 2.8% in February. Inland Empire was 9.1% vs. 7.9% the previous month and 4% in February.

Here’s how employment fared in those hard-hit local “fun” industries …

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Restaurants: 479,800 jobs — down 43,900 in a month and down 204,100 from February, or 30% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hotels: 52,900 jobs — down 4,700 in a month and down 40,000 from February, or 43% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 124,300 jobs — down 11,600 in a month and down 45,100 from February, or 27% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hiring trends in other key SoCal job categories …

Manufacturing: 546,500 jobs — down 1,600 in a month and down 47,600 from February, or 8% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Government: 976,700 jobs — down 3,200 in a month and down 59,200 from February, or 6% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Business services: 1,088,200 jobs — up 12,500 in a month and down 41,500 from February, or 4% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Healthcare, personal services: 1,126,100 jobs — up 6,600 in a month and down 28,200 from February, or 2% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Real estate, construction, finance: 490,300 jobs — up 2,400 in a month and down 5,500 from February, or 1% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Retailing: 744,800 jobs last month — that’s up 5,800 in a month and down 1,300 from February. That puts staffing 0.2% below what it was before coronavirus hit.

Transportation/warehouses: 391,800 jobs — up 10,600 in a month and up 17,100 from February, or 5% above of pre-pandemic employment.
Related Articles
Pandemic slashes 31% of SoCal workers in eateries, tourism, entertainment

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:02:14 +0000

Nearly one-third of the workers in Southern California’s “fun” industries have been cut in the pandemic era — job losses six times bigger than all other industries.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 35,300 fewer workers in December, leaving the region with 7.25 million total jobs — or 611,800 positions short of pre-coronavirus staffing. Total employment in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 8% below February, the last time the economy wasn’t shackled by the virus.

December’s job losses are directly tied to what I call “fun” industries: eateries, tourism and entertainment. These once-booming businesses employed 660,000 last month — after losing 60,200 in just one month.

But that was just another sad chapter in what was a horrible 2020 story for these job niches. Since February, payrolls for fun businesses were slashed by 289,200 — or 31% fewer workers in December than pre-pandemic employment.

The tally of local job losses would have been uglier if it wasn’t for bosses in all other industries in the region, who employ 6.59 million. These businesses actually added 24,900 employees last month. Yes, that’s still down 322,600 from February but the cuts bring employment to just 5% below pre-pandemic levels.

Southern California’s economy — especially these consumer-facing businesses — has been whipsawed by changing efforts designed to slow the spread of a pandemic that’s proven hard to conquer.

Attempts to reopen the statewide economy in summer and fall were followed by surging coronavirus infections and deaths. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented renewed business limitations to battle the pandemic’s latest upswing, including limiting customers at restaurants and tourist locations.

Leaving California? Here’s a ranking of the best states for relocation.

The fun industries’ bleak employment picture cane be found across the four-county region.

Los Angeles County: Lost 23,900 jobs overall last month. putting its 4.23 million total jobs 9% below February. “Fun” jobs were 32% below pre-virus level vs. a 6% decrease in all other industries.

Orange County: Lost 8,100 jobs last month to 1.55 million — 7% below February. “Fun” jobs were 26% below pre-virus vs. 5% elsewhere.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties: Lost 3,300 jobs last month to 1.46 million — 6% below February. “Fun” jobs were 34% below pre-virus vs. 2% elsewhere.

Or look at the sharp employment gap this way: Service jobs in Southern California’s “fun” industries — work that can’t be done remotely — equal 9% of Southern California employment. Yet these workers have suffered 47% of pandemic era’s job losses.

And please note, this is quite a reversal from the previous five years when “fun” employment jumped by 18% vs. 8% job growth in the rest of the economy.

My trusty spreadsheet also tells me cuts in these “fun” industries helped push Southern California’s jobless rate for December up to 9.7% from a revised 9.2% the previous month and 4.1% in February. Note: The Great Recession had a 12.9% local jobless peak.

Around the region, Los Angeles County unemployment was 10.7% last month — unchanged in a month but up from 4.6% in February. Orange County was 7.4% vs. 6.4% the previous month and 2.8% in February. Inland Empire was 9.1% vs. 7.9% the previous month and 4% in February.

Here’s how employment fared in those hard-hit local “fun” industries …

Get The Home Stretch newsletter to follow regional housing trends. Subscribe here!

Restaurants: 479,800 jobs — down 43,900 in a month and down 204,100 from February, or 30% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hotels: 52,900 jobs — down 4,700 in a month and down 40,000 from February, or 43% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 124,300 jobs — down 11,600 in a month and down 45,100 from February, or 27% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hiring trends in other key SoCal job categories …

Manufacturing: 546,500 jobs — down 1,600 in a month and down 47,600 from February, or 8% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Government: 976,700 jobs — down 3,200 in a month and down 59,200 from February, or 6% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Business services: 1,088,200 jobs — up 12,500 in a month and down 41,500 from February, or 4% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Healthcare, personal services: 1,126,100 jobs — up 6,600 in a month and down 28,200 from February, or 2% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Real estate, construction, finance: 490,300 jobs — up 2,400 in a month and down 5,500 from February, or 1% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Retailing: 744,800 jobs last month — that’s up 5,800 in a month and down 1,300 from February. That puts staffing 0.2% below what it was before coronavirus hit.

Transportation/warehouses: 391,800 jobs — up 10,600 in a month and up 17,100 from February, or 5% above of pre-pandemic employment.
Related Articles
Pandemic slashes 31% of SoCal workers in eateries, tourism, entertainment

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 13:02:14 +0000

Nearly one-third of the workers in Southern California’s “fun” industries have been cut in the pandemic era — job losses six times bigger than all other industries.

My trusty spreadsheet, filled with state job figures, found local bosses had 35,300 fewer workers in December, leaving the region with 7.25 million total jobs — or 611,800 positions short of pre-coronavirus staffing. Total employment in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties was 8% below February, the last time the economy wasn’t shackled by the virus.

December’s job losses are directly tied to what I call “fun” industries: eateries, tourism and entertainment. These once-booming businesses employed 660,000 last month — after losing 60,200 in just one month.

But that was just another sad chapter in what was a horrible 2020 story for these job niches. Since February, payrolls for fun businesses were slashed by 289,200 — or 31% fewer workers in December than pre-pandemic employment.

The tally of local job losses would have been uglier if it wasn’t for bosses in all other industries in the region, who employ 6.59 million. These businesses actually added 24,900 employees last month. Yes, that’s still down 322,600 from February but the cuts bring employment to just 5% below pre-pandemic levels.

Southern California’s economy — especially these consumer-facing businesses — has been whipsawed by changing efforts designed to slow the spread of a pandemic that’s proven hard to conquer.

Attempts to reopen the statewide economy in summer and fall were followed by surging coronavirus infections and deaths. Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom implemented renewed business limitations to battle the pandemic’s latest upswing, including limiting customers at restaurants and tourist locations.

Leaving California? Here’s a ranking of the best states for relocation.

The fun industries’ bleak employment picture cane be found across the four-county region.

Los Angeles County: Lost 23,900 jobs overall last month. putting its 4.23 million total jobs 9% below February. “Fun” jobs were 32% below pre-virus level vs. a 6% decrease in all other industries.

Orange County: Lost 8,100 jobs last month to 1.55 million — 7% below February. “Fun” jobs were 26% below pre-virus vs. 5% elsewhere.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties: Lost 3,300 jobs last month to 1.46 million — 6% below February. “Fun” jobs were 34% below pre-virus vs. 2% elsewhere.

Or look at the sharp employment gap this way: Service jobs in Southern California’s “fun” industries — work that can’t be done remotely — equal 9% of Southern California employment. Yet these workers have suffered 47% of pandemic era’s job losses.

And please note, this is quite a reversal from the previous five years when “fun” employment jumped by 18% vs. 8% job growth in the rest of the economy.

My trusty spreadsheet also tells me cuts in these “fun” industries helped push Southern California’s jobless rate for December up to 9.7% from a revised 9.2% the previous month and 4.1% in February. Note: The Great Recession had a 12.9% local jobless peak.

Around the region, Los Angeles County unemployment was 10.7% last month — unchanged in a month but up from 4.6% in February. Orange County was 7.4% vs. 6.4% the previous month and 2.8% in February. Inland Empire was 9.1% vs. 7.9% the previous month and 4% in February.

Here’s how employment fared in those hard-hit local “fun” industries …

Get The Home Stretch newsletter to follow regional housing trends. Subscribe here!

Restaurants: 479,800 jobs — down 43,900 in a month and down 204,100 from February, or 30% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hotels: 52,900 jobs — down 4,700 in a month and down 40,000 from February, or 43% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Arts, entertainment and recreation: 124,300 jobs — down 11,600 in a month and down 45,100 from February, or 27% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Hiring trends in other key SoCal job categories …

Manufacturing: 546,500 jobs — down 1,600 in a month and down 47,600 from February, or 8% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Government: 976,700 jobs — down 3,200 in a month and down 59,200 from February, or 6% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Business services: 1,088,200 jobs — up 12,500 in a month and down 41,500 from February, or 4% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Healthcare, personal services: 1,126,100 jobs — up 6,600 in a month and down 28,200 from February, or 2% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Real estate, construction, finance: 490,300 jobs — up 2,400 in a month and down 5,500 from February, or 1% below of pre-pandemic employment.

Retailing: 744,800 jobs last month — that’s up 5,800 in a month and down 1,300 from February. That puts staffing 0.2% below what it was before coronavirus hit.

Transportation/warehouses: 391,800 jobs — up 10,600 in a month and up 17,100 from February, or 5% above of pre-pandemic employment.
Related Articles
Riverside County announces 10,000 new coronavirus vaccine appointments

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 12:39:11 +0000

Riverside County is making 10,000 more appointments available starting at noon Saturday, Jan. 23, for upcoming coronavirus vaccination clinics in Corona, Menifee, Beaumont and Indio, officials said Friday, Jan. 22.

The announcement comes amid ongoing public anger over a glitch-filled online appointment sign-up system. While the county is switching websites in an effort to make the process smoother, the new website will still rely on a state registration portal that’s left many residents furious after filling out online forms only to find there’s no appointments to be had.

The upcoming clinics will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday, Jan. 25, through Friday, Jan. 29, at the following locations:
- Corona High School, 1150 W. 10th St.
- Heritage High School, 26001 Briggs Road, Menifee
- San Gorgonio Middle School, 1591 Cherry Ave., Beaumont
- Indio Fairgrounds (Fullenwider Auditorium), 46350 Arabia St., Indio
The clinics on Mondays and Fridays are only open to seniors.

Appointment sign-ups for the clinics can be made at www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine starting at noon Saturday. Residents 65 and older who need help registering can call 211.

The vaccines are free, but those getting them must register prior to arrival, have an appointment and show proof of eligibility. Health insurance information will be requested, but not required.

Riverside County is currently offering vaccines to residents 65 and older; health care workers, law enforcement, first responders and food and agriculture workers. While an estimated 700,000 county residents are eligible to be vaccinated, the county has received just 157,775 doses, county spokeswoman Brooke Federico said Friday.

Since launching online vaccine sign-ups last week, Riverside County has seen overwhelming demand for very limited vaccine supplies. It took just 32 minutes Thursday, Jan. 21, before all 3,900 available appointments at six weekend clinics in Lake Elsinore, Perris and Indio were claimed.

After the appointment window opened, county Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser tweeted that the county was “aware that some of our residents are having difficulty accessing the vaccination appointments on our website … Keep refreshing your screen.”

We are aware that some of our residents are having difficulty accessing the vaccination appointments on our website. Our IT team is addressing the issue. Keep refreshing your screen. #RivCoNOW #RUHealth

— Dr. Cameron Kaiser (@RivCoDoc) January 21, 2021

Thursday evening, county officials said “ a technical issue in the website code” popped up when the appointment window opened.

While the county promised a new website, officials said it will sill connect to the state’s vaccine registration portal and that “if all appointments are booked when completing the state’s registration, users will not be able to secure a time.”

In an email Friday, Federico said there were two main issues. First, the county’s website didn’t “perform as required” Thursday, she said, adding that the new site will solve that.

Second, the county’s site links to the state’s, which “requires residents to enter personal information before securing a timeslot.” That led to many filling out online forms before learning “there were no more available times,” Federico said.

“Simply, the state system is not designed like Ticketmaster,” she said, adding that county officials have raised the concern with the state.

“If the county were to use a different registration system, it would create a duplicate and burdensome process that would slow down the county’s efforts to administer as much vaccine as quickly as possible.”

In an email to Riverside County supervisors and other leaders, Temecula resident Julie Edmunds detailed her frustration trying to get appointments for a colleague’s mother and her sister-in-law’s grandparents.

After using six computers, two phones and nine internet browsers, Edmunds and her colleague got three appointments, only to see them canceled with no opportunity to reschedule, wrote Edmunds. She managed to get the first dose of vaccine along with her husband as both work for a school district.
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“These are vaccines (and) not concert tickets or camping reservations,” Edmunds wrote.

“ … While I am happy to help every eligible person I know get appointments, what happens to the elderly people who have no one to help them? … How are we as a county relying on a system that by its very nature excludes the people who need the vaccine the most?”

The county’s 211 number helps seniors and those without Internet access get an appointment, although residents have complained about not being able to get through to that number.
20-year-old motorcyclist dies in Riverside crash

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:58:55 +0000

A 20-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a Thursday evening, Jan. 21, collision at Main Street and Alamo Street.

A preliminary investigation concluded that two off-road motorcycles that were not street legal were traveling south on Main in the bicycle lane after dark without forward-facing lights just before 5:30 p.m., the Riverside Police Department said.

A northbound 2014 Subaru Crosstrek began a turn onto Alamo Street. After the lead motorcyclist crossed through the intersection, the second one struck the passenger side of the Subaru, police said. The driver of the Subaru was uninjured.

Justin Gatewood died at the scene.

Staff Writer Brian Rokos contributed to this report.
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Southern California housing market defied pandemic in 2020

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:11:26 +0000

Despite a raging pandemic that shuttered businesses and idled workers, the Southern California 2020 housing market came galloping back from early fears.

Home prices continued their eight-year march upward, with 2020’s average median price rising 8.3% in the region, according to figures from CoreLogic/DQ News released Friday, Jan. 22.

And home sales for the year totaled 233,289 transactions. While that’s well below average, the market still eked out a 1.6% gain from the year before.

Although 2020 was a year of gloves, protective booties and face masks, of hand sanitizer and one home tour at a time, it also was a year of bidding wars and record high prices, of falling mortgages rates and a short supply of homes for sale. Demand remained high, creating intense competition that pushed up prices.

“The market in Southern California in 2020 has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist for Hauz.com, a co-investment firm that helps residents buy homes. “An intense inventory shortage coupled with a low-interest-rate environment has caused local markets to skyrocket.”

The year ended on a high note as well, with the December median — or price at the midpoint of all sales — up 10.1% to $600,000, CoreLogic/DQ News figures show.

And sales soared to 24,995 transactions, up 29% and the most for any month since June 2017.

When sales tanked in April and May, many experts expected 2020 to be a dark year for housing. Indeed, tallies for the first six months were the second lowest in the past 33 years. But then the second half of the year logged the most sales for the July-to-December period since 2006.

“I thought people would be too scared to buy houses,” said economist Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. “I certainly didn’t see a nearly double-digit increase in house prices in many places, that’s for sure.”

Economists credit record-low mortgage rates, government assistance and savings accumulated while people sheltered at home.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage steadily dropped throughout the year, falling a full percentage point from March and setting 16 record lows, according to Freddie Mac.

Rates on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.76% in the three months ending in December compared with 3.7% a year earlier. That translates into 13% more buying power.

For example, a buyer paying 20% down would have a monthly house payment of $1,962 a month on a $600,000 median-priced sale. A year earlier, when the median was $545,000 and rates were 1% higher, the monthly payment $2,007.

At the same time, the inventory of homes for sale fell 40% to the lowest level since early 2004 as the pandemic scared would-be sellers from the market. Homeowners decided to wait to make a move, and many opted not to have strangers parading through their homes.

What’s ahead? Economists expect home prices to keep rising, at least for the next 12 months.

“The market is about to take off,” said Chris Thornberg, a founding principal of Los Angeles-based Beacon Economics. “The market’s going to be on fire this year, no doubt about it.”

Last year’s home prices were up in all six Southern California counties included in the CoreLogic/DQ News report. Annual sales numbers were up everywhere but Los Angeles County.

Sales and prices also showed strong growth across the board in the final month of the year.

Here’s a breakdown of December’s monthly numbers by housing type:

Single-family houses: Sales were up 33.3% to 17,163 units. The median was up 14.2% to $645,000.

Condos: Sales were up 32.3% to 5,476 units. The median was up 8.9% to $510,000.

Are you a real estate fan? Then sign up for The Home Stretch newsletter and its Bubble Watch edition. A twice-a-week review of what’s important for housing around the region! Subscribe here!

Newly built: Sales were down -0.2% to 2,356 units. The median fell 0.1% to $576,000.

Builder share: 9.4% of SoCal sales vs. 12.2% a year earlier.

Here’s a breakdown of December’s monthly numbers by county:

Los Angeles County: Sales were up 26.0% to 7,961 units. The median increased 11.4% to $700,000.

Orange County: Sales were up 17.7% to 3,611 units. The median increased 8.2% to $795,000.

Riverside County: Sales were up 39.8% to 4,903 units. The median increased 11.2% to $442,500.

San Bernardino County: Sales were up 34.7% to 3,266 units. The median increased 12.7% to $400,000.

San Diego County: Sales were up 27.1% to 4,174 units. The median increased 12.2% to $645,000.

Ventura County: Sales were up 39.7% to 1,080 units. The median increased 14.2% to $650,000.
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Southern California housing market defied pandemic in 2020

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:11:26 +0000

Despite a raging pandemic that shuttered businesses and idled workers, the Southern California 2020 housing market came galloping back from early fears.

Home prices continued their eight-year march upward, with 2020’s average median price rising 8.3% in the region, according to figures from CoreLogic/DQ News released Friday, Jan. 22.

And home sales for the year totaled 233,289 transactions. While that’s well below average, the market still eked out a 1.6% gain from the year before.

Although 2020 was a year of gloves, protective booties and face masks, of hand sanitizer and one home tour at a time, it also was a year of bidding wars and record high prices, of falling mortgages rates and a short supply of homes for sale. Demand remained high, creating intense competition that pushed up prices.

“The market in Southern California in 2020 has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist for Hauz.com, a co-investment firm that helps residents buy homes. “An intense inventory shortage coupled with a low-interest-rate environment has caused local markets to skyrocket.”

The year ended on a high note as well, with the December median — or price at the midpoint of all sales — up 10.1% to $600,000, CoreLogic/DQ News figures show.

And sales soared to 24,995 transactions, up 29% and the most for any month since June 2017.

When sales tanked in April and May, many experts expected 2020 to be a dark year for housing. Indeed, tallies for the first six months were the second lowest in the past 33 years. But then the second half of the year logged the most sales for the July-to-December period since 2006.

“I thought people would be too scared to buy houses,” said economist Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. “I certainly didn’t see a nearly double-digit increase in house prices in many places, that’s for sure.”

Economists credit record-low mortgage rates, government assistance and savings accumulated while people sheltered at home.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage steadily dropped throughout the year, falling a full percentage point from March and setting 16 record lows, according to Freddie Mac.

Rates on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.76% in the three months ending in December compared with 3.7% a year earlier. That translates into 13% more buying power.

For example, a buyer paying 20% down would have a monthly house payment of $1,962 a month on a $600,000 median-priced sale. A year earlier, when the median was $545,000 and rates were 1% higher, the monthly payment $2,007.

At the same time, the inventory of homes for sale fell 40% to the lowest level since early 2004 as the pandemic scared would-be sellers from the market. Homeowners decided to wait to make a move, and many opted not to have strangers parading through their homes.

What’s ahead? Economists expect home prices to keep rising, at least for the next 12 months.

“The market is about to take off,” said Chris Thornberg, a founding principal of Los Angeles-based Beacon Economics. “The market’s going to be on fire this year, no doubt about it.”

Last year’s home prices were up in all six Southern California counties included in the CoreLogic/DQ News report. Annual sales numbers were up everywhere but Los Angeles County.

Sales and prices also showed strong growth across the board in the final month of the year.

Here’s a breakdown of December’s monthly numbers by housing type:

Single-family houses: Sales were up 33.3% to 17,163 units. The median was up 14.2% to $645,000.

Condos: Sales were up 32.3% to 5,476 units. The median was up 8.9% to $510,000.

Are you a real estate fan? Then sign up for The Home Stretch newsletter and its Bubble Watch edition. A twice-a-week review of what’s important for housing around the region! Subscribe here!

Newly built: Sales were down -0.2% to 2,356 units. The median fell 0.1% to $576,000.

Builder share: 9.4% of SoCal sales vs. 12.2% a year earlier.

Here’s a breakdown of December’s monthly numbers by county:

Los Angeles County: Sales were up 26.0% to 7,961 units. The median increased 11.4% to $700,000.

Orange County: Sales were up 17.7% to 3,611 units. The median increased 8.2% to $795,000.

Riverside County: Sales were up 39.8% to 4,903 units. The median increased 11.2% to $442,500.

San Bernardino County: Sales were up 34.7% to 3,266 units. The median increased 12.7% to $400,000.

San Diego County: Sales were up 27.1% to 4,174 units. The median increased 12.2% to $645,000.

Ventura County: Sales were up 39.7% to 1,080 units. The median increased 14.2% to $650,000.
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Southern California housing market defied pandemic in 2020

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:11:25 +0000

Despite a raging pandemic that shuttered businesses and idled workers, the Southern California 2020 housing market came galloping back from early fears.

Home prices continued their eight-year march upward, with 2020’s average median price rising 8.3% in the region, according to figures from CoreLogic/DQ News released Friday, Jan. 22.

And home sales for the year totaled 233,289 transactions. While that’s well below average, the market still eked out a 1.6% gain from the year before.

Although 2020 was a year of gloves, protective booties and face masks, of hand sanitizer and one home tour at a time, it also was a year of bidding wars and record high prices, of falling mortgages rates and a short supply of homes for sale. Demand remained high, creating intense competition that pushed up prices.

“The market in Southern California in 2020 has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist for Hauz.com, a co-investment firm that helps residents buy homes. “An intense inventory shortage coupled with a low-interest-rate environment has caused local markets to skyrocket.”

The year ended on a high note as well, with the December median — or price at the midpoint of all sales — up 10.1% to $600,000, CoreLogic/DQ News figures show.

And sales soared to 24,995 transactions, up 29% and the most for any month since June 2017.

When sales tanked in April and May, many experts expected 2020 to be a dark year for housing. Indeed, tallies for the first six months were the second lowest in the past 33 years. But then the second half of the year logged the most sales for the July-to-December period since 2006.

“I thought people would be too scared to buy houses,” said economist Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. “I certainly didn’t see a nearly double-digit increase in house prices in many places, that’s for sure.”

Economists credit record-low mortgage rates, government assistance and savings accumulated while people sheltered at home.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage steadily dropped throughout the year, falling a full percentage point from March and setting 16 record lows, according to Freddie Mac.

Rates on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.76% in the three months ending in December compared with 3.7% a year earlier. That translates into 13% more buying power.

For example, a buyer paying 20% down would have a monthly house payment of $1,962 a month on a $600,000 median-priced sale. A year earlier, when the median was $545,000 and rates were 1% higher, the monthly payment $2,007.

At the same time, the inventory of homes for sale fell 40% to the lowest level since early 2004 as the pandemic scared would-be sellers from the market. Homeowners decided to wait to make a move, and many opted not to have strangers parading through their homes.

What’s ahead? Economists expect home prices to keep rising, at least for the next 12 months.

“The market is about to take off,” said Chris Thornberg, a founding principal of Los Angeles-based Beacon Economics. “The market’s going to be on fire this year, no doubt about it.”

Last year’s home prices were up in all six Southern California counties included in the CoreLogic/DQ News report. Annual sales numbers were up everywhere but Los Angeles County.

Sales and prices also showed strong growth across the board in the final month of the year.

Here’s a breakdown of December’s monthly numbers by housing type:

Single-family houses: Sales were up 33.3% to 17,163 units. The median was up 14.2% to $645,000.

Condos: Sales were up 32.3% to 5,476 units. The median was up 8.9% to $510,000.

Are you a real estate fan? Then sign up for The Home Stretch newsletter and its Bubble Watch edition. A twice-a-week review of what’s important for housing around the region! Subscribe here!

Newly built: Sales were down -0.2% to 2,356 units. The median fell 0.1% to $576,000.

Builder share: 9.4% of SoCal sales vs. 12.2% a year earlier.

Here’s a breakdown of December’s monthly numbers by county:

Los Angeles County: Sales were up 26.0% to 7,961 units. The median increased 11.4% to $700,000.

Orange County: Sales were up 17.7% to 3,611 units. The median increased 8.2% to $795,000.

Riverside County: Sales were up 39.8% to 4,903 units. The median increased 11.2% to $442,500.

San Bernardino County: Sales were up 34.7% to 3,266 units. The median increased 12.7% to $400,000.

San Diego County: Sales were up 27.1% to 4,174 units. The median increased 12.2% to $645,000.

Ventura County: Sales were up 39.7% to 1,080 units. The median increased 14.2% to $650,000.
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Lawsuit claims Riverside kindergarten student was sexually assaulted after officials ignored warnings

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 06:28:59 +0000

A trial is concluding in a lawsuit against the Riverside Unified School District that alleges a kindergarten student was sexually assaulted by another girl on a school playground after school officials ignored her mother’s complaints that her daughter previously had been assaulted by that same classmate.

The lawsuit, filed in 2018 on behalf of the girl’s mother by Long Beach attorney Jeremy D. Jass, seeks unspecified damages and accuses the district of negligence, sexual battery and infliction of emotional stress. The lawsuit also accuses Tomas Rivera Elementary officials of failing to obtain statements from witnesses and destroying evidence.

The district’s attorney, in the response filed in Superior Court in Riverside, said only the other child was responsible for the victim’s injuries, that school officials were unaware of the mother’s complaints and that school employees “exercised reasonable diligence,” to protect the girl, identified in court records only as R.S., now 6 years old.

The mother, whose name is not being published because it could serve to identify her daughter, said in the lawsuit that her daughter was bitten and scratched on separate days by the other girl — identified in court records as Jane Doe — early in 2017.

The mother said she then complained to school officials.

“After these incidents, R.S.’s mother was assured by (Tomas Rivera) teachers and employees that Jane Doe and R.S. would not be left alone together,” the lawsuit says.

Instead, one day in April, the two girls wound up together in a play tunnel where, out of sight of school staff, Jane Doe sexually assaulted R.S. and warned her not to scream or tell her parents or teachers, the lawsuit says.

While bathing her daughter later that day, the mother noticed injuries. The daughter said someone hurt her but added that she wasn’t allowed to tell her parents or teachers. The mother learned her daughter’s secret when the girl agreed to tell her older sister while the mother eavesdropped, the lawsuit says.

Doctors confirmed the injuries, which included swelling, scratches and bruises, the lawsuit says.

Riverside police investigated the incident, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a department spokesman. Under California law, no one under 14 can be arrested, Railsback said. Both families were referred to counseling resources. The victim is now attending school out of state.

The lawsuit is reminiscent of the one against the Moreno Valley Unified School District, in which the family of Landmark Middle School student Diego Stolz alleges that school employees failed to act on warnings from Diego’s family that he was being bullied. Just days after the warnings in September 2019, two students attacked Diego, rendering him unconscious. Diego, 13, died eight days after the beating.

The Moreno Valley district is contesting the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit against Riverside Unified, the school district’s attorneys on Jan. 6 — more than a month after the non-jury trial began — filed a motion asking Judge Jackson Lucky to turn off the streaming audio that is allowing the public to listen to court hearings during the coronavirus pandemic, court records show. Riverside County courthouses have largely been closed to observers for safety reasons.

Lucky denied the motion.

Assistant Superintendent Tim Walker on Thursday, Jan. 21, citing the ongoing trial, declined to explain why the district didn’t want the public to listen to the hearings.

Closing arguments in the case are expected Monday or Tuesday.

Lawsuit claims Riverside kindergarten student was sexually assaulted after officials ignored warnings

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 06:28:58 +0000

A trial is concluding in a lawsuit against the Riverside Unified School District that alleges a kindergarten student was sexually assaulted by another girl on a school playground after school officials ignored her mother’s complaints that her daughter previously had been assaulted by that same classmate.

The lawsuit, filed in 2018 on behalf of the girl’s mother by Long Beach attorney Jeremy D. Jass, seeks unspecified damages and accuses the district of negligence, sexual battery and infliction of emotional stress. The lawsuit also accuses Tomas Rivera Elementary officials of failing to obtain statements from witnesses and destroying evidence.

The district’s attorney, in the response filed in Superior Court in Riverside, said only the other child was responsible for the victim’s injuries, that school officials were unaware of the mother’s complaints and that school employees “exercised reasonable diligence,” to protect the girl, identified in court records only as R.S., now 6 years old.

The mother, whose name is not being published because it could serve to identify her daughter, said in the lawsuit that her daughter was bitten and scratched on separate days by the other girl — identified in court records as Jane Doe — early in 2017.

The mother said she then complained to school officials.

“After these incidents, R.S.’s mother was assured by (Tomas Rivera) teachers and employees that Jane Doe and R.S. would not be left alone together,” the lawsuit says.

Instead, one day in April, the two girls wound up together in a play tunnel where, out of sight of school staff, Jane Doe sexually assaulted R.S. and warned her not to scream or tell her parents or teachers, the lawsuit says.

While bathing her daughter later that day, the mother noticed injuries. The daughter said someone hurt her but added that she wasn’t allowed to tell her parents or teachers. The mother learned her daughter’s secret when the girl agreed to tell her older sister while the mother eavesdropped, the lawsuit says.

Doctors confirmed the injuries, which included swelling, scratches and bruises, the lawsuit says.

Riverside police investigated the incident, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a department spokesman. Under California law, no one under 14 can be arrested, Railsback said. Both families were referred to counseling resources. The victim is now attending school out of state.

The lawsuit is reminiscent of the one against the Moreno Valley Unified School District, in which the family of Landmark Middle School student Diego Stolz alleges that school employees failed to act on warnings from Diego’s family that he was being bullied. Just days after the warnings in September 2019, two students attacked Diego, rendering him unconscious. Diego, 13, died eight days after the beating.

The Moreno Valley district is contesting the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit against Riverside Unified, the school district’s attorneys on Jan. 6 — more than a month after the non-jury trial began — filed a motion asking Judge Jackson Lucky to turn off the streaming audio that is allowing the public to listen to court hearings during the coronavirus pandemic, court records show. Riverside County courthouses have largely been closed to observers for safety reasons.

Lucky denied the motion.

Assistant Superintendent Tim Walker on Thursday, Jan. 21, citing the ongoing trial, declined to explain why the district didn’t want the public to listen to the hearings.

Closing arguments in the case are expected Monday or Tuesday.

4,808 New Coronavirus Cases, 63 New Deaths Thursday in Riverside County

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:35:50 +0000

Riverside County health officials are reporting 4,808 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases and 63 additional deaths Thursday bringing the countywide totals to 255,808 cases and 2,739 deaths.

There are 729 new COVID19 cases and 14 new deaths in the Coachella Valley.

Here are the numbers for the Coachella Valley city-by-city:

Desert Hot Springs: 3,536 (+71) cases, 48 (+3) deaths
Cathedral City: 6,132 (+91) cases, 73 (+1) deaths
Palm Springs: 3,223 (+48) cases, 89 deaths
Rancho Mirage: 902 (+17) cases, 28 (+1) deaths
Palm Desert: 3,367 (+58) cases, 84 (+1) deaths
Indian Wells: 169 (+4) cases, 6 deaths
La Quinta: 2,900 (+45) cases, 44 deaths
Indio: 10,810 (+185) cases, 155 (+5) deaths
Coachella: 7,087 (+122) cases, 59 (+3) deaths
Thousand Palms: 870 (+21) cases, 5 deaths
Bermuda Dunes: 564 (+9) cases, 6 deaths
Thermal: 412 (+3) cases, 4 deaths
Mecca: 1,039 (+22) cases, 16 deaths
North Shore: 317 (+11) cases, 2 death
Oasis: 782 (+17) cases, 6 deaths
Sky Valley: 177 (+4) cases, 2 deaths
Cabazon: 258 (+2) cases, 1 death
Anza: 113 (-1) cases, no deaths

There are 78,846 active cases of coronavirus. This number is derived from the total number of confirmed cases and the subtraction of the total number of recoveries and deaths.

At this time age group, 18 – 39 continues to have the highest number of confirmed cases in the county with 101,866 cases.

According to the Riverside University Health System, 1,529 patients infected with coronavirus were hospitalized countywide as of Thursday, up from 1,514 Wednesday. That number includes 335 patients in intensive care units.

The 11-county Southern California region’s available ICU capacity is at 0.0%. The zero-percent capacity means the county’s hospitals are now in their surge plans; it does not mean there are no ICU beds available.

The 63 newly reported fatalities bring the county’s coronavirus death toll to 2,739.

The number of documented patient recoveries stands at 175433.

Riverside County health officials said the Moderna vaccine doses being used at county-run vaccination clinics scheduled for this week are not from that batch.

Officials also said that shipments of vaccine distributed from the county to private providers countywide are also not thought to be from the affected batch.

Adverse reactions at both county-run vaccine clinics and private entities within Riverside County have so far been rare, officials said.

“We are checking with our partners, and at this time, we have not found any within Riverside County providers. We are also not aware of providers that have seen adverse reactions. We continue to see that adverse reactions are rare,” county Executive Office spokeswoman Brooke Federico said.

According to the state, more than 330,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine were included in the affected lot, and they were distributed to 287 locations across California. The 330,000 doses are roughly 10% of the 3.2 million doses the state has received overall from Moderna and Pfizer.

No other significant issues with allergic reactions have occurred at any other location where the affected lot was distributed, according to the state. It was not clear which other locations received the affected doses.

Riverside County’s overall COVID-19 positive rate is 23.5%, down from 25.8% last week, based on state-adjusted figures.

The doubling time — or the number of days in which documented virus cases increase 100% — is 34 days. A doubling rate of seven days is reason for alarm, while expanding doubling times point to moderation, or gradual success in virus containment, according to health officials.

The regional ICU bed metric is a key benchmark under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s regional stay-at-home order, which went into effect on Dec. 6. The order was triggered when ICU bed availability across Southern California fell below 15%.

The mandate is expected to remain in effect until bed availabilities recover.

The current stay-at-home order impacts bars, theaters, museums, hair salons, indoor recreational facilities, amusement parks and wineries — all of which are supposed to remain closed.

Restaurants are confined to takeout and delivery, with capacity limitations on retail outlets.

Information on tier requirements can be found at https://covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

Residents of all ages are encouraged to get tested, with or without symptoms, to identify where the disease is currently present in the community and where it is not. Testing continues to be an integral focus as more residents visit more businesses. Visit www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus/testing for more information on testing locations and how to make an appointment.

Click here for a map of Riverside County cases.

Article updated: 1/21/2020
20-year-old motorcyclist dies in Riverside after crash

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:32:53 +0000

A 20-year-old motorcyclist died Thursday in Riverside following a traffic crash, police said.

At about 5:29 p.m. dispatchers received calls of a traffic collision between amotorcyclist and vehicle in the intersection of Main Street and Alamo Street. The operator of the motorcycle suffered major injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed two off-road motorcycles that were not street legal were traveling southbound Main St. in the bicycle lane after dark without forward facing lights, the Riverside Police Department said. A northbound 2014 Subaru Crosstrek began a westbound turn onto Alamo Street. After the lead motorcyclist crossed through the intersection, the second motorcyclist struck the passenger side of the Subaru in the intersection, police said.

The driver of the Subaru was uninjured and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. The identity of the deceased is pending the coroner’s investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this collision is urged to call Riverside Police Traffic Detective F. Soria at 951-826-8720 or fsoria@riversideca.gov.
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Appointments for COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Riverside County fill up shortly after registration opened

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 22:17:36 +0000

Registration for limited COVID-19 vaccine appointments in Riverside County opened up Thursday for some residents, including those 65 and older, but the appointments were full soon after.

Registration began at noon for six upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Lake Elsinore, Perris and Indio. Those eligible for the limited appointments are those in Phase 1A and 1B, which includes health care, education and other essential workers.

But around 12:10 p.m., it appeared the county's appointment site was overloaded.

Shortly after Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the public health officer for Riverside County, tweeted the appointments were full, but said more slots for vaccines were coming.

Update: All clinics are now full. More vaccination clinics will be made available soon.
— Dr. Cameron Kaiser (@RivCoDoc) January 21, 2021

This week, Riverside County received 26,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine to distribute among its community partners, with 3,900 of those doses being used for six additional county-run vaccine clinics.

"This is important news to so many of our residents who are eager to be vaccinated," Supervisor Karen Spiegel said in a statement. "We also ask for your patience. We continue to have very limited vaccine quantities and a high demand within the community for it. The county is distributing vaccine as quickly as we receive it."

The clinics will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and are scheduled as follows:
- Friday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Diamond Stadium located at 500 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore (the Jan. 22 clinic is for those 65 and older only and an appointment is required)
- Sunday, Jan. 24 and Monday, Jan. 25 at the Perris Fairgrounds located at 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris (the Jan. 25 clinic is for those 65 and older only and appointment is required)
- Saturday, Jan. 23 and Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Indio Fairgrounds in the Fullenwider Auditorium located at 46350 Arabia Street, Indio
The clinics will provide vaccines free of charge; however, those who show up must register prior to arrival, have an appointment and show proof of eligibility (work badge, business identification or letter of proof from employer). Medical insurance information will be requested, although not required. Anyone 65 and older must have proof of age.

For the description of the various COVID-19 tiers and to schedule an appointment, visit ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine.
Appointments for COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Riverside County fills up shortly after registration opened

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 21:05:18 +0000

Registration for limited COVID-19 vaccine appointments in Riverside County opened up Thursday for some residents, including those who are 65 and older, but the appointments were full soon after.

Registration began at noon for six upcoming COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Lake Elsinore, Perris and Indio. Those eligible for the limited appointments are those in Phase 1A and 1B, which includes health care, education and other essential workers. At around 12:10 p.m., it appeared the county's appointment site was overloaded.

Shortly after Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the public health officer for Riverside County, tweeted the appointments were full, but said more slots for vaccines were coming.

Update: All clinics are now full. More vaccination clinics will be made available soon.
— Dr. Cameron Kaiser (@RivCoDoc) January 21, 2021

This week, Riverside County received 26,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine to distribute among its community partners, with 3,900 of those doses being used for six additional county-run vaccine clinics.

"This is important news to so many of our residents who are eager to be vaccinated," Supervisor Karen Spiegel said in a statement. "We also ask for your patience. We continue to have very limited vaccine quantities and a high demand within the community for it. The county is distributing vaccine as quickly as we receive it."

The clinics will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and are scheduled as follows:
- Friday, Jan. 22 and Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Diamond Stadium located at 500 Diamond Drive, Lake Elsinore (the Jan. 22 clinic is for those 65 and older only and an appointment is required)
- Sunday, Jan. 24 and Monday, Jan. 25 at the Perris Fairgrounds located at 18700 Lake Perris Drive, Perris (the Jan. 25 clinic is for those 65 and older only and appointment is required)
- Saturday, Jan. 23 and Sunday, Jan. 24 at the Indio Fairgrounds in the Fullenwider Auditorium located at 46350 Arabia Street, Indio
The clinics will provide vaccines free of charge; however, those who show up must register prior to arrival, have an appointment and show proof of eligibility (work badge, business identification or letter of proof from employer). Medical insurance information will be requested, although not required. Anyone 65 and older must have proof of age.

For the description of the various COVID-19 tiers and to schedule an appointment, visit ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine.
California’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program opens Feb. 2

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:33:17 +0000

The second round of California’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will open for applications Tuesday, Feb. 2.

The assistance comes from the Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development’s $500 million program.

Businesses are eligible for grants up to $25,000 based on annual revenue.

The deadline to apply is Monday, Feb. 8 by 6 p.m.

Any eligible applicants who did not receive funding during the first round will automatically be considered and do not need to re-apply.

The City of Palm Springs is inviting businesses who need assistance applying for the funds to call the City’s newly implemented COVID-19 Financial Aid Hotline at (760) 323-8273 or reach out with questions via email at PSAdvisor@palmspringsca.gov

Palm Desert Offering Restaurant Recovery Loan Program

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:04:57 +0000

Palm Desert restaurants facing shutdown can now apply for the City’s Unite Palm Desert Restaurant Recovery loan program.

The City has earmarked $800,000 for the program,

Loans will be made in $5,000 increments plus $1,000 per full time equivalent employee up to a total of $10,000 per establishment.

Loans will not require repayment if participating restaurants comply with State public health orders.

Participating restaurants must offer take-out and, if available, delivery services while retaining the number of employees listed in the application through May 31, 2021 in order for loans to be considered for forgiveness.

Applications and guidelines can be found at PDbizsupport.com.

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, January 31.

A current City of Palm Desert business license is required to qualify.

Recipients can expect funds in about 30 days following an executed loan agreement.

Palm Desert Mayor Kathleen Kelly said the new program will support one of the community’s vital business sectors.

“We are extremely grateful to all of our businesses who are supporting current health orders for the sake of the common good despite the hardship on them,” Kelly said. “This bold addition to the other support available is designed to particularly sustain our hard-hit restaurants, such a key part of our community and economy.”

For more information about the program and eligibility you can email bizsupport@cityofpalmdesert.org or call the City’s business support hotline at 760-776-6362.
Farm workers get a stab at a vaccine jab, without leaving the fields

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:37:50 +0000

People who toil in the fields picking fruits and vegetables throughout Riverside County are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, but getting those agricultural workers to traditional vaccination sites is a challenge.

So on Thursday, Jan. 21, the vaccines came to the farm workers.

Riverside County’s public health department teamed up with area non-profits and vaccinated about 300 workers from two ranches in eastern Coachella Valley. The clinics are part of an effort to educate and assist farm workers with coronavirus testing and vaccinations throughout Riverside County, which includes nearly 190,000 acres of agricultural land in communities as diverse as Temecula, San Jacinto and Lake Elsinore.

“We’re excited to be doing this. It’s a unique event,” said Yaoska Machado, a Riverside County spokeswoman.

Machado said that farm workers who pick the produce that finds its way to tables across Southern California and beyond should be counted among the pandemic’s “heroes.”

“We understand they’re highly exposed to this virus. But they still have to work, just like nurses and doctors… They’re just as essential,” Machado said.

RELATED: Riverside County to change coronavirus vaccine appointment website after complaints

In collaboration with the Desert Healthcare Foundation, community organizations and faith-based groups, the county’s health department has worked to reach farm workers with information about the virus, how to prevent it and how to test for it, said Riverside county public health spokesman Jose Arballo Jr.

“In the early stages, we had mobile clinics go out to San Jacinto and Hemet,” Arballo said.

Officials have since focused efforts among farm workers in the eastern Coachella Valley, which has as many as 8,000 agricultural workers this month and thousands more in the spring. Those workers face specific challenges that make it harder to reach them. Most speak Spanish or various dialects, and many do not have access to a computer or even a car.

“There’s some hesitancy about the vaccine and about government intervention in this population,” said Arballo, of Riverside University Health System-Public Health. “They have to hear the message from trusted messengers, whether it’s their colleagues who get the shots themselves or other trusted messengers.”

One of those trusted messengers is the Perris-based TODEC Legal Center, whose advocates have been going to farms in recent months to distribute information, encourage testing and, this week, to register farmers for the on-site clinic.

Some 300 Coachella Valley farm workers got the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. One of the community organizations helping to register them for the vaccines was the Perris-based TODEC Legal Center.

“This group Thursday will be among the first farmworkers to get their vaccines,” said Luz Gallegos, of TODEC. “It was important to get them on the list up high, as essential workers.”

One of the men they helped register was Jose Sanchez, 51, of Indio, who has a flip phone and couldn’t otherwise access the online registration.

“I’m delighted to be able to get my test,” Sanchez, who has worked the fields for 26 years picking grapes and other produce, said in Spanish during a phone interview Wednesday. “I’m the sole breadwinner in my family and can’t afford to get sick.”

Coronavirus is hitting farm workers hard. This month, news outlets reported that at least 200 agricultural workers in the county had tested positive and Sanchez said some of his colleagues have died from the virus. He tells his co-workers: “Let’s take advantage of vaccinating so we don’t get sick.”

George Tudor, owner of Tudor Ranch in Mecca, where the clinic took place Thursday, said it was a “no brainer” to host the event, which was quickly arranged in two days through the county.

“I think it’s tremendous. I hope they can peel off 500 vaccines a week and do events like this at other growers. The growers on this end of the valley are willing and able,” Tudor said

How often Riverside County’s mobile clinic unit will roll out to such farms, though, is unclear. There’s a lot of competition for the vaccines.

“A lot of our clinics will depend on our supply,” Arballo said.

More than 700,000 residents in Riverside County currently qualify for vaccinations, including anyone over the age of 65, and so far, the county has received 115,000 vaccines, according to Machado.

“That’s a pretty huge gap between what we received and who qualifies,” she said.

Still, Machado called Thursday’s first vaccination clinic for farm workers – taking vaccines to their workplace – “a great start and a good solution.”
Related links
Farm workers get a stab at a vaccine jab, without leaving the fields

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:37:50 +0000

People who toil in the fields picking fruits and vegetables throughout Riverside County are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, but getting those agricultural workers to traditional vaccination sites is a challenge.

So on Thursday, Jan. 21, the vaccines came to the farm workers.

Riverside County’s public health department teamed up with area non-profits and vaccinated about 300 workers from two ranches in eastern Coachella Valley. The clinics are part of an effort to educate and assist farm workers with coronavirus testing and vaccinations throughout Riverside County, which includes nearly 190,000 acres of agricultural land in communities as diverse as Temecula, San Jacinto and Lake Elsinore.

“We’re excited to be doing this. It’s a unique event,” said Yaoska Machado, a Riverside County spokeswoman.

Machado said that farm workers who pick the produce that finds its way to tables across Southern California and beyond should be counted among the pandemic’s “heroes.”

“We understand they’re highly exposed to this virus. But they still have to work, just like nurses and doctors… They’re just as essential,” Machado said.

RELATED: Riverside County to change coronavirus vaccine appointment website after complaints

In collaboration with the Desert Healthcare Foundation, community organizations and faith-based groups, the county’s health department has worked to reach farm workers with information about the virus, how to prevent it and how to test for it, said Riverside county public health spokesman Jose Arballo Jr.

“In the early stages, we had mobile clinics go out to San Jacinto and Hemet,” Arballo said.

Officials have since focused efforts among farm workers in the eastern Coachella Valley, which has as many as 8,000 agricultural workers this month and thousands more in the spring. Those workers face specific challenges that make it harder to reach them. Most speak Spanish or various dialects, and many do not have access to a computer or even a car.

“There’s some hesitancy about the vaccine and about government intervention in this population,” said Arballo, of Riverside University Health System-Public Health. “They have to hear the message from trusted messengers, whether it’s their colleagues who get the shots themselves or other trusted messengers.”

One of those trusted messengers is the Perris-based TODEC Legal Center, whose advocates have been going to farms in recent months to distribute information, encourage testing and, this week, to register farmers for the on-site clinic.

Some 300 Coachella Valley farm workers got the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. One of the community organizations helping to register them for the vaccines was the Perris-based TODEC Legal Center.

“This group Thursday will be among the first farmworkers to get their vaccines,” said Luz Gallegos, of TODEC. “It was important to get them on the list up high, as essential workers.”

One of the men they helped register was Jose Sanchez, 51, of Indio, who has a flip phone and couldn’t otherwise access the online registration.

“I’m delighted to be able to get my test,” Sanchez, who has worked the fields for 26 years picking grapes and other produce, said in Spanish during a phone interview Wednesday. “I’m the sole breadwinner in my family and can’t afford to get sick.”

Coronavirus is hitting farm workers hard. This month, news outlets reported that at least 200 agricultural workers in the county had tested positive and Sanchez said some of his colleagues have died from the virus. He tells his co-workers: “Let’s take advantage of vaccinating so we don’t get sick.”

George Tudor, owner of Tudor Ranch in Mecca, where the clinic took place Thursday, said it was a “no brainer” to host the event, which was quickly arranged in two days through the county.

“I think it’s tremendous. I hope they can peel off 500 vaccines a week and do events like this at other growers. The growers on this end of the valley are willing and able,” Tudor said

How often Riverside County’s mobile clinic unit will roll out to such farms, though, is unclear. There’s a lot of competition for the vaccines.

“A lot of our clinics will depend on our supply,” Arballo said.

More than 700,000 residents in Riverside County currently qualify for vaccinations, including anyone over the age of 65, and so far, the county has received 115,000 vaccines, according to Machado.

“That’s a pretty huge gap between what we received and who qualifies,” she said.

Still, Machado called Thursday’s first vaccination clinic for farm workers – taking vaccines to their workplace – “a great start and a good solution.”
Related links
Farm workers get a stab at a vaccine jab, without leaving the fields

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:37:49 +0000

People who toil in the fields picking fruits and vegetables throughout Riverside County are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, but getting those agricultural workers to traditional vaccination sites is a challenge.

So on Thursday, Jan. 21, the vaccines came to the farm workers.

Riverside County’s public health department teamed up with area non-profits and vaccinated about 300 workers from two ranches in eastern Coachella Valley. The clinics are part of an effort to educate and assist farm workers with coronavirus testing and vaccinations throughout Riverside County, which includes nearly 190,000 acres of agricultural land in communities as diverse as Temecula, San Jacinto and Lake Elsinore.

“We’re excited to be doing this. It’s a unique event,” said Yaoska Machado, a Riverside County spokeswoman.

Machado said that farm workers who pick the produce that finds its way to tables across Southern California and beyond should be counted among the pandemic’s “heroes.”

“We understand they’re highly exposed to this virus. But they still have to work, just like nurses and doctors… They’re just as essential,” Machado said.

RELATED: Riverside County to change coronavirus vaccine appointment website after complaints

In collaboration with the Desert Healthcare Foundation, community organizations and faith-based groups, the county’s health department has worked to reach farm workers with information about the virus, how to prevent it and how to test for it, said Riverside county public health spokesman Jose Arballo Jr.

“In the early stages, we had mobile clinics go out to San Jacinto and Hemet,” Arballo said.

Officials have since focused efforts among farm workers in the eastern Coachella Valley, which has as many as 8,000 agricultural workers this month and thousands more in the spring. Those workers face specific challenges that make it harder to reach them. Most speak Spanish or various dialects, and many do not have access to a computer or even a car.

“There’s some hesitancy about the vaccine and about government intervention in this population,” said Arballo, of Riverside University Health System-Public Health. “They have to hear the message from trusted messengers, whether it’s their colleagues who get the shots themselves or other trusted messengers.”

One of those trusted messengers is the Perris-based TODEC Legal Center, whose advocates have been going to farms in recent months to distribute information, encourage testing and, this week, to register farmers for the on-site clinic.

Some 300 Coachella Valley farm workers got the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. One of the community organizations helping to register them for the vaccines was the Perris-based TODEC Legal Center.

“This group Thursday will be among the first farmworkers to get their vaccines,” said Luz Gallegos, of TODEC. “It was important to get them on the list up high, as essential workers.”

One of the men they helped register was Jose Sanchez, 51, of Indio, who has a flip phone and couldn’t otherwise access the online registration.

“I’m delighted to be able to get my test,” Sanchez, who has worked the fields for 26 years picking grapes and other produce, said in Spanish during a phone interview Wednesday. “I’m the sole breadwinner in my family and can’t afford to get sick.”

Coronavirus is hitting farm workers hard. This month, news outlets reported that at least 200 agricultural workers in the county had tested positive and Sanchez said some of his colleagues have died from the virus. He tells his co-workers: “Let’s take advantage of vaccinating so we don’t get sick.”

George Tudor, owner of Tudor Ranch in Mecca, where the clinic took place Thursday, said it was a “no brainer” to host the event, which was quickly arranged in two days through the county.

“I think it’s tremendous. I hope they can peel off 500 vaccines a week and do events like this at other growers. The growers on this end of the valley are willing and able,” Tudor said

How often Riverside County’s mobile clinic unit will roll out to such farms, though, is unclear. There’s a lot of competition for the vaccines.

“A lot of our clinics will depend on our supply,” Arballo said.

More than 700,000 residents in Riverside County currently qualify for vaccinations, including anyone over the age of 65, and so far, the county has received 115,000 vaccines, according to Machado.

“That’s a pretty huge gap between what we received and who qualifies,” she said.

Still, Machado called Thursday’s first vaccination clinic for farm workers – taking vaccines to their workplace – “a great start and a good solution.”
Related links
Suspects arrested and charged in La Cresta home invasion that left 3 dead

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:23:23 +0000

A second suspect believed to be involved in a December home-invasion robbery in La Cresta that left three dead has been arrested and criminal charges have been filed against both suspects.

Dong Yang, 33, of Rowland Heights was detained after he was stopped by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in Temple City on Jan. 15. He was interviewed and identified as the driver of one of the suspect vehicles, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Yang was arrested on Jan. 15 and charged on Thursday, Jan. 21, with home invasion and robbery, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

Michael Tong Shun Zhang, 34 of Rowland Heights was injured in the incident and arrested on Dec. 26. On Thursday, Jan. 21, Zhang was charged with three counts of murder, home invasion and robbery, the DA’s office said.

On Dec. 26, suspects forced their way into a home on the 37000 block of Calle de Lobo in La Cresta, which is west of Murrieta, and attacked residents. Shots were exchanged, and four people were hit, the Sheriff’s Department said.

The men who were killed were suspect Wang Lin, 38, of Rowland Heights and victim Alejandro Camacho, 45, of Bullhead City, Arizona, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Additionally, a third victim was identified as Jose Martin, according to a criminal complaint filed with the Riverside County Superior Court. Further identifying information on Martin was not immediately available.
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Moreno Valley Councilwoman Carla Thornton dies at age 42

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:19:51 +0000

Moreno Valley Councilwoman Carla Thornton has died.

Moreno Valley Councilwoman Carla Thornton has died, the city announced on Thursday, Jan. 21. (Photo courtesy of the city of Moreno Valley)

Thornton, 42, died Thursday, Jan. 21, after an illness, according to a city news release.

“Councilwoman Thornton was a dedicated public servant who cared deeply for the residents of her district and the city as a whole,” Mayor Yxstian Gutierrez said in the release. “Carla brought an incredible amount of enthusiasm, energy and real joy to her council work, and she had so much more to contribute. This is a tremendous loss for Moreno Valley, and I will miss her as a colleague and as a friend.”

Thornton was elected to represent District 2 in 2018. She was the first African American woman elected to the council.

“Dr. Thornton was an inspiration. I was just so happy that she was able to do the things she did while she was on the council. She was pro-growth, pro-progress and she really had her heart set on making Moreno Valley a destination point,” Councilwoman Victoria Baca said Thursday.

No decision has yet been made on how to fill Thornton’s seat, which will be up for reelection in 2022. According to Interim City Attorney Steve Quintanilla, the City Council can either appoint someone to fill the vacancy by March 22 or a special election will have to be held on Nov. 2, 2021.

Last summer, Thornton co-founded the Riverside County Alliance of Black Elected Officials, which seeks to coordinate policy across the region and advocated for the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to declare racism a public health hazard, which they did in August.

She formed the organization with Riverside County Board of Education trustee Corey Jackson, whom she defeated in the 2018 Moreno Valley City Council race.

“She became one of my biggest allies in the community,” despite him being a progressive and her being a conservative, Jackson said Thursday. “She always looked for common ground with people.”
Related Articles
The death of George Floyd and the subsequent calls for racial justice provided common ground between them.

“She was someone who rolled up her sleeves and got in the work,” Jackson said. “She was a workhorse, not a show horse.”

Thornton’s death came as a shock to the council.

“It hurts so much,” Councilman David Marquez said Thursday night. “She’s part of the family and it really hurts.”

Thornton was an assistant professor of social work at California Baptist University. A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, she was deployed twice as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“She was a strong leader. She really, truly cared about her family and the community,” Councilman Ulises Cabrera said Thursday. “She will be dearly missed.”

Thornton’s family has not released information about any memorial or funeral service, according to the city.
Riverside County to change coronavirus vaccine appointment website after complaints

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 18:18:43 +0000

Riverside County is changing its website that books coronavirus vaccination appointments after scores of complaints from residents who said the site crashed or failed to schedule a shot once they filled out online forms.

The announcement came hours after an appointment window, which started at noon Thursday, Jan. 21, closed after just 32 minutes for six county-run clinics scheduled for the next few days in Perris, Lake Elsinore and Indio. Almost 4,000 appointments were booked, one for each available vaccine dose. Last week, more than 11,000 appointments were full in less than two hours Friday, Jan. 15.

A new website link will be announced soon, county officials said late Thursday afternoon in a news release.

For many, it has been a struggle just to log onto the county site. They took to social media and email to report website crashes and reported filling out forms only to find out no appointments were available.

“It was like trying to buy concert tickets with the site crashing, constantly reloading, and then finally getting in only to fill out all of my information to find out all the appointments were taken,” wrote Kathleen Orr, a 49-year-old Riverside resident and 8th grade middle school teacher, who tried getting an appointment at noon.

She added: “I don’t know of one teacher who was successful in getting an appointment today when the new sites opened up.”
Related Articles
Gary Dailey, a 69-year-old Riverside man, sought an appointment via the county website and also through Albertsons pharmacy.

“I just love how the (county) website is set up, if you are lucky enough to get on,” he said sarcastically via email. “I love repeatedly filling out the forms until I get to the very end where I actually make the appointment only to find out there are none, or better yet, the website vapor locks and you have to start all over from the beginning.”

In the release, county officials blamed “a technical issue in the website code (that) was uncovered at the time” the appointment window opened.

“Unfortunately, when many residents attempted to visit the appointment website, they saw a timeout screen,” the release states.

“Residents are understandably frustrated that the appointment website did not perform today,” Interim County Executive Officer Juan C. Perez said in the release. “While we worked with our vendor to ensure it would be operational today, unfortunately, it was not. Frankly, that’s unacceptable. We apologize for this unfortunate situation and will soon direct residents to a new website.”

Riverside County officials have also reminded residents that there are other options beyond the county, such as doctors, pharmacies and urgent-care clinics but stressed that the demand for shots exceeds the supply.

In an email to a constituent, Jeff Greene, chief of staff to Riverside County Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, wrote that part of the problem was Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that counties could start offering the vaccine to those 65 and older — “we have nowhere near sufficient vaccine supplies to fill that need.”

“The previous plan with tiers and phases had its own frustrations and confusions, but it had at least been designed to make smaller groups eligible at once, so the system wouldn’t be overwhelmed,” Greene wrote.

“This week, we only had 3,900 doses total available to the county, and those appointments disappeared within a half hour (Thursday), with the system completely crashing for many/most/all of the unsuccessful applicants … The county bought significant extra bandwidth capacity for this week, but the website vendor apparently had other problems that contributed to the crashing of the site.”

Another issue, Greene wrote, is the state website used to complete the registration.
Related links
“Our own website is simply directing people to the CALVAX.org system operated by the state,” he wrote. “And not only has their platform been crashing regularly, but they are also responsible for the very frustrating process that doesn’t tell you there is no space available until after you’ve submitted all your information, unlike a private sector ticket site that holds your spot while you fill in the form.

Riverside County has no control over that, and other counties are seeing the same problem, he said.

San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert said users of that county’s vaccination website run into problems when clicking a link that takes them to the state website to fill out information to book an appointment. Often, users fill out pages of personal information, only to find there are no appointments available, he said.

The county is so frustrated, Wert added, that it’s considering creating its own online appointment booking system, though that would take a considerable amount of time and money.

Riverside County officials also said that when appointments open on their new website, it will still link to the state’s vaccine registration portal. If all appointments are booked when completing the state’s registration, residents won’t be able to schedule a time, the release stated.

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