Governor issues Stay-at-Home order for Southern California region for at least three weeks

December 5, 2020

Media Contacts:
Brooke Federico
County PIO
[email protected]

Jose Arballo Jr.
RUHS-Public Health PIO
[email protected]

Governor issues Stay-at-Home order for Southern California region for at least three weeks

The governor announced regional stay-at-home restrictions for all Southern California,
including Riverside County, for a minimum of three weeks. The stay-at-home order will go into
effect on Sunday evening at 11:59 p.m. The regional restrictions are in response to weeks-long
surge in cases, hospitalizations, positivity rates and coronavirus-related deaths throughout the
state.

“We have seen cases and other metrics rising for the past month and it is expected to get even
worse this month,” said Kim Saruwatari, director of the Riverside County Department of Public
Health. “We must practice social distancing and wear masks to preserve valuable space and
staff in our hospital system. These resources are already stretched thin.”

For more information on the types of businesses impacted by the regional stay-at-home order
and to monitor the regional ICU capacity, visit https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-foressential-needs/.

In Riverside County, total COVID positive hospitalizations have set new highs each day this
week. As of Dec. 4, there are 658 COVID positive patients hospitalized, including 135 patients
requiring treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU). In July, the highest number of COVID 
positive hospitalizations was 550, and the highest number of patients requiring ICU care was
167.

Critical county services and programs will continue on behalf of our residents. In line with the
regional stay-at-home order, many of those services could return to being provided
virtually. This practice has been critical to how the county has conducted business throughout
the pandemic. Residents should call ahead to determine if their needs can be met online, over
the phone or through the mail. Some services requiring in-person visits may need an
appointment.

Dec. 10 is the deadline to make the second installment of property taxes, which can be paid
online, over the phone or through the mail. Owners who need to pay their property taxes in
person next week will be able to do so while observing social distancing and safety guidelines.

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