Biweekly Third District Update

California COVID-19 Update

Riverside County is currently in the State’s Purple Tier. To see what is open in Riverside County and to read industry guidelines, visit covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, our adjusted case rate per 100,000 residents is 28.8, and our positivity rate is 11 percent. To move to the State’s red tier, we need to have a case rate of fewer than seven per 100,000 and a positivity rate of less than eight percent.

Schools serving students from kindergarten through 6th grade may reopen for in-person instruction when our adjusted case rate falls below 25 per 100,000 and remains there for five days. Schools must also complete a COVID-19 Safety Plan that has been reviewed and approved by state and county health officials and then post it on their website homepage. Schools serving students from 7th through 12th grade may reopen for in-person instruction when our adjusted case rate is below 7 per 100,000. To read the guidelines for reopening schools, visit the following link: https://bit.ly/3u573uy. If you would like to know local school districts’ plans for reopening, please contact your local school district.

Riverside County COVID-19 Update

As of Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, there have been 287,200 cases of COVID-19 in Riverside County. There have been 3,599 deaths and 257,273 recoveries. For more detailed data on the County’s COVID-19 cases, visit www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus. For state updates, visit www.cdph.ca.gov, and for national updates, visit www.cdc.gov.

If you would like to make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 test, visit https://gettested.ruhealth.org/home.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Currently, the County of Riverside is prioritizing vaccinating residents 65 and older. If you meet the State’s allocation criteria, but you are under the age of 65, then you may be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine from a private provider, such as a medical facility or pharmacy, or from Curative at the Riverside Convention Center and Palm Springs Convention Center. To find the State’s allocation criteria, visit https://bit.ly/37ncr2v.

Finally, if you received your first vaccine dose at a County vaccine clinic, then a local health official will reach out to schedule your second dose. You will be sent an individualized appointment link - no one else can use that link to schedule an appointment.
Visit www.ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine to find appointments for those over 65, appointments at the Curative sites, information on second-dose appointments and a list of private providers. Residents 65 and older who need assistance making an appointment can call 2-1-1.

Office on Aging Offers Free Services to Residents.

• The County of Riverside’s Office on Aging provides no-cost services to help older adults maintain independence and a high-quality of life.
• Some of the services are as follows:
  • No-contact meal delivery or meal pick up;
  • Utility, medication and transportation grants; and
  • Family caregiver support;
• To reach the Office on Aging, call 951-867-3895. Select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then wait for a service agent to answer your call.
• The Office on Aging is also promoting awareness of Friendship Line California, a free intervention hotline and non-emergency warmline providing friendly conversation. To reach the Friendship Line, call 1-888-670-1360.

State Offers Early Earthquake Warning Tools

• Most Californians say they are very or somewhat knowledgeable about the steps they can take to prepare for a natural disaster, yet 60 percent remain highly concerned about the potential impact of a disaster on their household.
• To ensure all Californians are prepared, the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is providing critical earthquake warning resources at no cost.
• In collaboration with partner organizations, Cal OES launched the nation’s first State earthquake early warning system: Earthquake Warning California.
• The system uses smartphone sensors to detect an earthquake before humans can feel it. It issues a ShakeAlert in real time, providing additional life-saving seconds for people to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
• You and your family can take steps to stay safe by downloading the MyShake App or enabling Android Earthquake Alerts or Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Location services must be “always on” for the technology to connect to nearby ground sensors.
• For additional earthquakes resources, visit www.earthquake.ca.gov.