‘Stitches of Love’: VVC staff and students donate masks to local hospitals

‘Stitches of Love’: VVC staff and students donate masks to local hospitals – Victor Valley News

VICTORVILLE, Calif. — With a shortage of surgical masks across the United States because of the coronavirus, Victor Valley College staff and faculty have stepped up to help supply local hospitals with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Along with nearly 6,000 N95 masks donated by the college’s Emergency Medical Services Department, more than 200 reusable cloth masks have been sewn by VVC instructors and students. The donations are benefiting Desert Valley Hospital, St. Mary Medical Center and Victor Valley Global Medical Center.

“We recognize the valuable partnerships that our local hospitals provide for our emergency medical technician and paramedic students each semester,” said Dave Oleson, program director and department chair of VVC’s Emergency Medical Services. “Providing these masks at a time when they are in such high demand and infrequent availability is just one small way we can repay the time and effort that the nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and allied health professionals at these three facilities give to our students during their internships.”

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SoCal Nail Salons Donate 75,000 Masks to Medical Workers

SoCal Nail Salons Donate 75,000 Masks to Medical Workers – NBC Los Angeles

There are 6,000 nail salons in Southern California, with about 30,000 technicians out of work, according to the Professional Nail Association.

Southern California nail salons are donating tens of thousands of masks and gloves to healthcare workers after closing under the state’s stay-at-home order.

A group of salons has collected about 75,000 paper masks and 280,000 gloves, supplies they usually use to protect against powders and polishes, in an initiative they’re calling “Nailing It.”

Demand for medical supplies has skyrocketed because of the coronavirus pandemic, with hospitals looking for opportunities to replenish their supply.

“I heard stories last week about nurses and doctors working in the ER and ICU without masks, so we made an effort to donate as much as we can… all of our stock we have left,” said Johnny Ngo, owner of Whale Spa.

Tam Nguyen, who runs Advance Beauty College, said his school is now closed and his graduates have no jobs. They’re not alone. There are 6,000 nail salons in Southern California, with about 30,000 technicians out of work, according to the Professional Nail Association.

But Nguyen believes they can still act – in fact, he considers donating supplies a calling for the industry.

“We connected the dots and said, ‘You know what? We can do something about this,'” he said. “When I heard [what others were doing], I wanted to be part of it.”

Nailing It organizers said most nail salons across the United States are owned by Vietnamese Americans. Besides encouraging salon owners to help, they hope to inspire other professionals, such as dentists and orthodontists who are not working, to donate supplies as well.

“In a crisis like this, we get to see kindness is amplified,” Nguyen said. “The giving nature in people and humans is unbelievable.”

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Riverside County Health Officials Recommend Widespread Face Mask Use Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Riverside County Health Officials Recommend Widespread Face Mask Use Amid Coronavirus Pandemic – CBS Los Angeles

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA) — Riverside County health officials are now recommending residents cover their nose and mouth when leaving their homes for essential travel during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to a press release sent Tuesday, the face coverings do not have to be medical grade. Bandanas and fabric masks are acceptable alternatives.

While the county had previously not endorsed widespread face covering, the circumstances have changed, said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer.

“When the situation changes, the rulebook changes,” Kaiser said. “We’re seeing our numbers increasing even sooner than we predicted and that means our strategy must change too. Covering your face doesn’t change the orders everyone must abide by to stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing, but it’s an extra layer of protection that I think we need to add.”

RELATED: Riverside County Announces 80 New Coronavirus Cases, 4 Additional Deaths

Medical experts believe that transmission of COVID-19 occurs primarily through droplets from an infected individual. Fabrics and face coverings filter these droplets and helps mitigate the spread of the virus.

“When you wear a face covering, not only are you protecting yourself, you’re protecting other people from you,” said Riverside County health spokesperson Jose Arballo Jr. “Meaning, maybe you don’t know that you’re sick.”

Face coverings should be worn anytime a person is outside of their home, even in offices of essential businesses, according to the press release.

“The numbers don’t lie and we know that coronavirus is spreading and growing. However, these numbers are actual people and protecting the lives of people is all of our responsibility,” said Board Chair V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District Supervisor. “That means that flattening the curve requires another layer of aggressive protection against the virus. Please take the additional steps to cover your face.”

Riverside County officials aren’t the only ones considering asking individuals to wear masks outside of the home. CDC guidelines could soon change for other areas of the country as well, asking more people to wear fabric masks when they are leaving the house.

“The thinking behind that is really to reduce transmission,” said Dr. Sumanta Chaudhuri, Chief Medical Officer at Orange County Global Medical Center. “[The mask] may or may not have some protection does not have COVID-19, but it certainly is a good idea if the wearer has asymptomatic COVID-19.”

However, Chaudhuri advised against purchasing N95 or medical grade masks, because healthcare workers desperately need them.

Riverside County health officials also reminded residents they should only leave the home for doctor appointments, grocery shopping or pharmacy visits. Frequent hand washing, social distancing and staying home are the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Stay in your place, maintain your space and cover your face,” said Bruce Barton, director of the Riverside County Emergency Management Department.

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Drive-thru coronavirus testing coming to Hemet

Drive-thru coronavirus testing coming to Hemet

Hemet Global Medical Center will begin limited drive-thru testing for the novel coronavirus Tuesday, March 31.

The center, 1117 E. Devonshire Ave., in Hemet, will be by appointment only.

To make an appointment call 951-765-4757 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Only patients with a valid doctor’s order or symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing should make an appointment.

The testing entrance is off of North Weston Place between East Devonshire Avenue and East Date Street.

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Drive-thru coronavirus testing coming to Hemet

Drive-thru coronavirus testing coming to Hemet

Hemet Global Medical Center will begin limited drive-thru testing for the novel coronavirus Tuesday, March 31.

The center, 1117 E. Devonshire Ave., in Hemet, will be by appointment only.

To make an appointment call 951-765-4757 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Only patients with a valid doctor’s order or symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing should make an appointment.

The testing entrance is off of North Weston Place between East Devonshire Avenue and East Date Street.

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Riverside County Health Officials Recommend Widespread Face Mask Use Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Riverside County Health Officials Recommend Widespread Face Mask Use Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Riverside County health officials are now recommending residents cover their nose and mouth when leaving their homes for essential travel during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to a press release sent Tuesday, the face coverings do not have to be medical grade. Bandanas and fabric masks are acceptable alternatives.

While the county had previously not endorsed widespread face covering, the circumstances have changed, said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer.

“When the situation changes, the rulebook changes,” Kaiser said. “We’re seeing our numbers increasing even sooner than we predicted and that means our strategy must change too. Covering your face doesn’t change the orders everyone must abide by to stay home as much as possible and maintain social distancing, but it’s an extra layer of protection that I think we need to add.”

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VVUHSD donates thousands of masks, respirators to hospitals

VVUHSD donates thousands of masks, respirators to hospitals – Victor Valley News

The Victor Valley Union High School District donated 10,000 surgical masks and more than 1,400 respirator masks to local hospitals this week.

The area’s three hospitals — Victor Valley Global Medical Center, St. Mary Regional Medical Center and Desert Valley Hospital — were each sent 480 facial respirators. St. Mary and Desert Valley were each sent 4,000 surgical masks, and Victor Valley Global was sent 2,000 masks.

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Jeff Bezos is donating $100 million to American food banks

Jeff Bezos is donating $100 million to American food bank – CNN

Jeff Bezos is donating $100 million to US food banks to help them feed a growing number of out-of-work Americans who are losing their jobs during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Amazon (AMZN) CEO donated to Feeding America, a Chicago-based nonprofit with more than 200 food banks across the United States.
Bezos posted to Instagram a photo of a food bank, captioning it, “Even in ordinary times, food insecurity in American households is an important problem, and unfortunately Covid-19 is amplifying that stress.” He noted that restaurants are closed, and many churches that provide free meals are closed too, because of social distancing mandates.
 
“This donation, the largest single gift in our history, will enable us to provide more food to millions of our neighbors facing hardship during this crisis,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, in a statement.
 

LA Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong bids to turn St. Vincent hospital into coronavirus “command center”

LA Times owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong bids to turn St. Vincent hospital into coronavirus “command center” – The Real Deal

…A purchase would resolve the fate — at least in the short-term — of the 164-year-old facility, which closed its doors in January. St. Vincent’s owner, Verity Health, is currently in bankruptcy. KPC Group was in talks to buy St. Vincent and three other properties from Verity last year, but that deal fell through.

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Riverside County coronavirus cases increase to 493; 14 now dead

Riverside County coronavirus cases increase to 493; 14 now dead – Press-Enterprise

The number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Riverside County jumped 15% to 493 on Thursday, April 2. Fourteen in the county have died from COVID-19, up one from Wednesday. The latest death was in Eastvale, according to the county public health website. Fifty have recovered from the virus, up from 30 the day before. That means they have completed the quarantine period and no longer have symptoms. The county recorded 429 cases entering Thursday.

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