Updated: 6/4/2020, 4:46 p.m. 

    Houses of Worship to Reopen in Riverside County Following Statewide Guidance

 Churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship may now reopen in Riverside County following statewide guidance to allow religious services throughout the state.

This statewide allowance comes after Riverside County requested on May 15 for religious services to have special consideration for reopening during the state’s accelerated stage two. 

Click HERE for more information and reopening guidelines.

Update on Amended Emergency City Orders (finally, all in one place)

The City of Palm Springs recently amended several emergency City orders related to COVID-19 as a way to fill gaps left by the County of Riverside’s rescission of its orders. Here is an update (links to orders in orange below and item and page number if required).

Face Coverings - MUST be worn at all open businesses and in all other public settings when 6 feet distancing is not possible.

Examples include:

• Waiting in line to go inside a store

• Shopping at a store

• Picking up food at a restaurant

• Picking up retail goods at a retail store that is allowed to be open

• On public transportation (or waiting for it)

• In a taxi or rideshare vehicle

• Seeking healthcare

• Going into facilities allowed to stay open

• Working an essential job that interacts with the public

Face coverings are no longer required to be worn by people who are outside walking, golfing, playing tennis, pickleball, hiking, bicycling or running. However, people must comply with social distancing during these activities, including maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from other people. People should also have a face covering readily accessible.

Guidelines and other requirements can be found in the linked City order, Item 3, Pages 2 & 3 (in blue text).

Social Distancing - All persons are required to engage in "social distancing" while out in public by maintaining a six-foot separation from all persons except for members of their same household and medical providers with the appropriate personal protection equipment.

“Shelter in Place” – in effect until further notice; residents are to stay at home, unless they are engaging in essential activities, such as working at an essential business or going to the grocery or drug store. Residents may leave home for restaurant meal pickup and retail curbside pickup as well leave to participate in exercise activities such as golf, tennis, pickleball, or hiking.

Guidelines and other requirements can be found in the linked City order, Item 1, Page 2.

Golf Courses - Public and Private - Open with restrictions; Golfers are required to follow National Golf Course Owners Association “Park and Play”

Guidelines and other requirements can be found in the linked City order, Item 2, pages 2 - 5 (in blue text) and Exhibit A.

Public and private recreational courts - Pickleball and tennis resumed play on Monday, May 11 on both public and private courts. Private courts are governed by HOA’s. Only singles play is allowed on City owned courts. Palm Springs residents can call Parks & Recreation to reserve public courts at (760) 323-8272. Singles only is recommended on private courts.

Guidelines and other requirements can be found in the linked City order, Item 4, pages 5, 6 & 7 (in blue text).

Community Pools - NEW as of May 22, 2020: Community Pools are no longer regulated by the City under any emergency orders.

For now, the public pool at the Palm Springs Swim Center will remain closed.

Short Term Rentals & Hotel Lodging – NEW as of May 22, 2020: The Palm Springs City Council voted on May 21, 2020 to align its short-term rental rules with those of the State. The State still prohibits use of hotels and vacation rentals for leisure/vacation purposes. The Council continued in place the requirement that lodging owners be responsible for cancellations necessitated by the State’s emergency order and the protection for lodging for victims of domestic violence. In addition, essential workers may still visit Palm Springs to assist with the pandemic response. 

Construction - Work on residential and commercial properties may continue as long as the work is primarily exterior -- or the building is vacant. Face coverings must be worn and social distancing must be practiced.

 Tenant Rights and Resources Info

Desert Memorial Park to Re-open for Visitation on Monday, May 11

Beginning Monday, May 11, Desert Memorial Park cemetery grounds will be open for visiting Monday - Friday, from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

To minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19 and to protect the health and safety of the public and your loved ones, all visitors are required to wear face coverings at all times.

No more than five people may gather at the same time at a gravesite or any other locations on cemetery grounds. A minimum social distance of six feet must be maintained at all times between visitors unless living in the same household. 

Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City is part of the Palm Springs Cemetery District.

New Testing Sites Open in the Coachella Valley: Desert Hot Springs & Mecca

Eight new testing sites offered by state health officials - including two sites in the Coachella Valley - are now open. 

Desert Hot Springs: Tuesday - Saturday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Mecca: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

The new sites are being operated by OptumServe, a firm hired by the state to conduct testing, and each location can process up to 132 people daily. The service is free and those wanting to be tested can be asymptomatic, but must have an appointment. 

Appointments can be made online by going to https://lhi.care/covidtesting or those without internet access can call 888-634-1123. Testing is available for everyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status, and is no cost to the resident.  

RivCo EDA Subsidized Employment Program

The EDA has grant money, to help businesses save money on hiring new employees, overhead costs and staying afloat in these uncertain times.

Here's how it works:

1. After registering online, you give us a job description of who you need to hire.
2. The EDA will pre-screen candidates and match them to meet your job description at no cost to you.
3. We give you only those resumes.
4. You interview and you hire who is right for your company.

Here's what you get:

For each referral you hire, our program will subsidize you half of the new employee’s hourly wages for 6 months, if they work a minimum of 20 hours per week on average.

What do we need from you to register?

1. Completion of Online Vendor registration with the County of Riverside for prompt reimbursement.
2. Completed W-9 form for the business.
3. Copy of your ACORD Certificate of Insurance.
4. Completed job description for all available positions.

Vendor Registration can be found HERE.

For more information regarding the Subsidized Employment Program visit HERE.

Riverside County Extends Face Covering, Social Distancing Orders through June 19

Gov. Newsom's stay at home executive order still in effect

Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser is extending his order requiring residents to wear face coverings when outside and to continue practicing social distancing through June 19. 

Riverside County residents are still required to remain in their primary residence under Governor Newsom’s existing “stay at home” order unless they are engaged in an essential business or activity, such as grocery shopping or visiting the doctor. The governor’s order does not have an expiration date. 

For more information: Riverside County Public Health News Release, 4/29/20

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for Self-Employed Workers & Independent Contractors 

If you are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19, an independent contractor or self-employed, don’t have sufficient work history, exhausted regular & extended unemployment insurance, you can now apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance through the State of California Employment Development Department. 

 To apply, visit https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.htm

Jobseekers in Riverside County may apply for workforce assistance programs

County residents who lost employment because of the coronavirus epidemic may receive up to $800 in job loss benefits thanks to a $252,000 state grant received by the Riverside County Workforce Development Division.

 “I am glad we have this additional resource from the State of California to assist job-seekers in Riverside County,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “This will support many people through the transition to new employment opportunities.”

 The funding will help provide supportive services for jobseekers enrolled in the agency’s various workforce assistance programs.  Eligible jobseekers will be eligible for up to $800 in financial support for:

 Housing assistance

• Utility assistance
• Telework equipment and internet access
• Childcare assistance
• Transportation assistance

 Jobseekers who suffered a permanent job loss due to economic impacts of COVID-19 will be prioritized for assistance.

 In addition to supportive services, jobseekers enrolled in the program will receive comprehensive workforce services which include: career coaching, paid training, on the job training and job placement.  Services are offered in a variety of formats such as internet, email and telephone to facilitate remote access.

For more information on the supportive service program, please call 951-955-9742 or contact us via email at workforcehelp@rivco.org.

TESTING FOR CORONAVIRUS EXPANDED TO RESIDENTS WITHOUT SYMPTOMS 

Riverside County residents who do not have symptoms but want to be tested for coronavirus will now be able to after health officials modified the guidelines for testing. 

Those who want to be tested must call 800-945-6171 for an appointment. Drive-ups without appointments cannot be accommodated.

Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer, said the modification of the testing criteria will allow anyone who wants to be tested the opportunity to see whether they have the illness. Officials have said expanded testing – for those with and without symptoms -- will give health experts a better idea of the extent of the illness in Riverside County.

Drive up testing scheduled for Blythe area 

The Blythe site is the fifth location for testing in Riverside County. Testing sites are also located at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio (Tuesdays through Saturdays), at The Diamond Stadium in Lake Elsinore (Sundays through Thursdays), the parking lot at Harvest Christian Fellowship Church in Riverside (Tuesdays through Saturdays) and the Perris Fairgrounds (Tuesdays through Saturdays). 

GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT CALIFORNIA WORKERS IMPACTED BY COVID-19

• Governor announces $75 million in statewide Disaster Relief Assistance funding to provide financial support for immigrant workers affected by COVID-19

• Philanthropic partners commit to raising an additional $50 million to support undocumented Californians

• Governor announces new initiative to expand call center hours at the Employment Development Department to better assist Californians with unemployment insurance applications

• EDD will also implement a one-stop shop for those applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, including the self-employed and independent contractors 

 REAL ESTATE PROTOCOLS UNDER SHELTER IN PLACE ORDER

Under Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-33-20, all individuals living in California were ordered to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain the continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors. While not originally listed within such sectors, “residential and commercial real estate services” was subsequently included on March 28, 2020.

As a result, the City of Palm Springs believes, at this time and subject to any further guidance provided by State or County officials, that the following would be reasonable protocols to be implemented in providing real estate services:  Real Estate Protocols

WORKER BENEFITS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL WEBINAR FOR RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 

On Thursday, April 9, the City of Palm Springs, in partnership with the Riverside County Workforce Development Center and the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, hosted a webinar to provide information to residents who've been impacted by COVID-19. Please view here: Worker Benefits Town Hall Webinar

COUNTY ORDERS PARK AND TRAIL PARKING LOTS CLOSED

Parking lots at all parks and/or trails shall be closed and shall be accessible only by members of the public within walking distance of the parks and/or trails. Said parks and/or trails shall be used solely for walking, hiking, equestrian or bicycle riding. The public shall not congregate or participate in group sporting activities at such parks and/or trails.

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIAL ORDERS PUBLIC TO STAY HOME AND COVER FACE WHEN LEAVING

In response to the rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases, Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser today ordered that no gatherings of any number of people may take place outside of family members residing in the same home.

Dr. Kaiser also ordered everyone to wear a face covering when leaving home, including essential workers. Face coverings can be bandanas, scarves, neck gaiters or other clothing that does not have visible holes. Residents should not purchase N95 or surgical masks, as these limited resources are needed for the healthcare community and first responders.

CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS URGENCY ORDINANCE FOR MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL EVICTIONS

On April 2, 2020, the Palm Springs City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2022 enacting a moratorium on residential and commercial evictions. For more details, download the urgency ordinance by clicking here                                         Updated April 4, 2020

The City of Palm Springs will continue to provide residents, workers and visitors with updated information regarding health information, as well as resources and services for businesses and workers impacted by the City’s Shelter in Place Order.

This page will be updated regularly with more information.

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS RECOMMEND RESIDENTS COVER THEIR FACES WHEN OUT IN PUBLIC

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. 

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.