RivCo COVID-19 Update - Issued October 2, 2020
 Poll workers in Riverside County will feel safe and protected from coronavirus thanks to the donations of face shields from students at Western Center Academy in Hemet.
A small group of students led by brothers Zubin and Tenzing Carvalho created SoCal FaceShields for Frontline Workers in the early days of the pandemic. This week, they dropped off hundreds of face shields to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office to help the volunteers who will work in one of the 130 vote centers during this upcoming Presidential Election.
The group, while mostly self-funded, does accept donations in order to create protective gear for frontline workers throughout Riverside County.
The team has donated the face shields to postal workers, grocery store workers, a Costco warehouse, schools and Rady's pediatrician offices.
More than 12,000 shields have been distributed to date.
The donated items are 3D-printed, and arrive packaged and sanitized based on recommended requirements for the convenience of workers.
Thank you to this amazing team of young innovators! We appreciate their contribution to fighting COVID-19 in our communities.
 The 25th Annual Valley-Wide Employment Expo will be held online this year to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Since the pandemic began in March, more than 100,000 jobs in Riverside County have disappeared. Nearly 14 percent of Riverside County residents are out of work right now, and unemployment is 20 percent in some desert communities.
In the past, hundreds of job seekers and recruiters have gathered to network at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio. But on Thursday, Oct. 15 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., job seekers will have the chance to meet with potential employers in an online environment.
Pre-expo workshops are set for Oct. 8 to help attendees prepare for the event. Encourage family and friends in search of a job to attend!
For more information or to sign up, visit www.desertjobexpo.com
  Thousands of small businesses in Riverside County have sought and received relief in the form of grants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grants were not only instrumental in assisting business owners with rent and other expenses, but allowed them to revamp their service model for the safety and protection of residents.
Those protective health measures included enhancing their cleaning protocols and providing appropriate spacing measures for patrons’ safety.
Limited funds remain for small business grants in such areas of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Menifee, Moreno Valley and Perris. Learn more here.
 Employees with the Public Health department took steps to protect themselves from seasonal influenza by getting their flu shot on Thursday, Oct. 1.
The clinic was held outdoors as a walk or drive-up location so that staff could safely distance from others in order to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer, said residents should get their flu shot before the end of October. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend all persons 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccination each year, and some providers have this year’s shot already in stock. Children 8 years old and under who haven’t received at least two flu shots in prior seasons may need two shots to be fully protected; consult your primary care provider.
Kaiser also recommends frequent hand washing and avoiding getting close to people who are sick as ways to avoid the flu. If you or your child are sick, stay home from work and school.
Some of the same preventive measures used to slow the spread of coronavirus can also help to stop the flu, including wearing a mask, practice social distancing and frequent hand washing.
For more information on where flu shots are being offered throughout Riverside County: www.rivcoimm.org.
 Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) participated in a virtual workshop Tuesday, Sept. 29 that featured a panel of experts offering help to the immigrant community to learn how to access resources during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The topics covered included the importance of being counted as part of Census2020, an overview of the Medi-Cal and CalFresh programs, as well as how public charge rule might impact those interested in receiving public benefits.
The informative workshop was conducted in Spanish, livestreamed via the DPSS Facebook page in partnership with the TODEC Legal Center and was open to the public. More than 3,000 people attended the virtual session. There will be another session held in English in the next few weeks.
Currently there are 730,195 Medi-Cal customers and 264,505 CalFresh customers in Riverside County.
 Residents who’ve lost their job due to the pandemic may want to consider working as an in-home caregiver. The Riverside County Department of Public Social Services is hiring and training compassionate and committed caregivers for In-Home Supportive Services.
Caregivers help seniors or dependent adults who need care and want to remain in their homes. Flexible scheduling and benefits are offered.
To apply, call 888.960.4477 or visit www.riversideihss.org.
 Times are tough, especially in the age of COVID-19. But we don’t have to suffer alone.
If you are a parent or youth feeling stressed or just need someone to talk to, call or text the California Parent and Youth Hotline at 1-855-4A-PARENT (427-2736) to receive support.
Services are available in English and Spanish, 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Virtual peer support groups are also available. Learn more here.
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