County health officials: 'We beg you' to take virus seriously

Wearing a protective mask, Dr. Geoff Leung said Riverside County is running out of time to stop the surge of deaths. Photos courtesy of Facebook

Wearing protective masks and bandanas, Riverside County health officials today issued their most urgent warning yet to those who continue to leave their homes for non-essential trips and go out in public without “masking up”.

“To those who continue to work who are non-essential, who gather at churches, at home, at parks – please stop, we beg you,” said Dr. Mike Mesisca, medical director for the Riverside County operations branch. “Small decisions, though they may seem, will lead to deaths by the hundreds and thousands – perhaps 2,000 or more in this county alone.”

The press conference came on a day when the County Health Department reported a one-day increase in coronavirus cases of 145 – the biggest increase yet -- to a total of 638, with only 50 people recovered so far. Reminding the public that numbers will increase dramatically with more test results coming, Mesisca and other health officials made a special plea to those who aren’t complying with recommendations.

In Menifee, where the number of reported cases jumped from 17 on Thursday to 23 today, many residents have reported seeing large crowds gather on hiking trails, in parks, and other places. In most cases, less than half of these individuals are wearing masks, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today recommend everyone do whenever leaving their homes.

“You may have heard cases in California are slowing down, but we’re not seeing that in Riverside County,” said Dr. Geoff Leung, County chief of family medicine. “We’re still on track to see 65,000 cases, 11,000 hospitalized and 1,000 deaths in our county alone.

“Imagine the Staples Center full of people for a basketball game. Imagine half of those being in hospital beds. That would be three to four times our hospital capacity.”

Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez reminded the public of the guidelines to “stay in place, maintain your space, and cover your face.” Perez delivered those words as he was wearing a red and black bandana over his mouth and nose.

“The reason I’m wearing a bandana is to do everything possible to leave the masks to those on the front lines, fighting this surge,” Perez said.

Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez addresses the media while wearing a bandana.

In a March 31 announcement, County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser also recommended that people wear a mask when leaving the home.

“Riverside County health officials are recommending residents cover their nose and mouth when leaving home for essential travel to doctor appointments, grocery shopping or pharmacy visits,” Kaiser said in the statement. ”The face coverings do not have to be hospital grade but need to cover the nose and mouth. For example, bandanas, fabric masks and neck gaiters are acceptable. Fabric covers and bandanas can be washed and used again.”

“We know that COVID-10 can be spread by non-symptomatic people,” Leung said. “We have to do these things well and do them now, because we’re running out of time before the impending surge.”

Menifee City Manager Armando Villa said today the city supports the strong recommendations of County health officials. Villa said the City of Menifee has joined several nearby cities in placing a large order for N95 masks for their employees. These masks cover the mouth and nose and help protect the user from inhaling small particles in the air.

Villa said he hopes the masks will be delivered by Monday. Meanwhile, he has asked City employees to wear bandanas or some kind of cloth face covering.

“The mask is more for protecting the person you’re talking to,” Villa said. “It blocks your droplets from hitting others. A bandana is three or times better than doing nothing.

“What we need to make sure of is that people remember a mask is not a cure. “Don’t let a mask give you a false sense of security. And dispose of gloves properly without using them to take off your mask or touching your face.”

Health officials are asking residents to help each other by making their own masks and using them immediately.  Many online tutorials are available showing how to make a mask, and the group Menifee Masketeers is making cloth mask kits available to residents.

Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman also urged every Menifee resident to do their part in helping to prevent spread of COVID-19.

“First, I want to thank all of Menifee’s residents that have been diligent by staying home and following the advice of the County’s Health Officer,” Zimmerman said. “It has been very inconvenient, but I believe that our community will fare well because we have taken it seriously.

“Some of us have noticed a few scofflaws that continue to gather socially, and some non-essential businesses that remain open to the public. We had hoped that warning visits from code enforcement officers and pressure from the public would be enough to discourage the temptation to be defiant. Residents have notified the city of yard sales scheduled for the weekend, which is obviously not acceptable during a health pandemic.”

Villa said code enforcement officials have been checking on “non-essential” businesses in Menifee that might still be open. He said they are monitoring “a dozen, maybe two dozen” businesses to see if they are continuing to operate in opposition to the state and county recommendations.

“We have instructed our code enforcement officers to post a notice on the front of buildings which would be like a notice of violation,” Villa said. “They will be informed that if they are still open in 72 hours, we may assess fines.

“We continue to tell people not to go out unless it is absolutely necessary.”

Meanwhile, in a separate press conference today, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced the death of a second deputy in the department due to the coronavirus. Dave Werksman, a 22-year veteran of the department, is survived by his wife and three children. He had served as a hazard materials specialist and had been working in an administrative position recently.

Bianco said Werksman had no contact with deputy Terrell Young, whose death was announced a day earlier. Young, who previously served in the Perris Station, had most recently worked in the jail at Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta. According to Bianco, 26 Sheriff’s Department employees and 13 inmates have contracted the virus, with two currently hospitalized.

Bianco also had harsh words for residents whom he believes are ignoring the isolation order and other safety guidelines.

“The only way to beat this is to stay at home,” he said. “I see people already giving up on that. Travel on the roads is leaning back to normal. I think social distancing was great for two days, then everyone got tired of it. Those people are in for a serious awakening.”

Zimmerman encourages residents and businesses to be diligent in complying with health recommendations and to look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

"The next few weeks will be brutal," he said. "We should brace for it. While we anticipate some very sad losses, we know there will be a rebuilding period and prosperity because this community has always been strong together.”