Is our health system ready to save

SURVIVING COVID19 continued from page 5 considered a separate region? At this point it hasn’t been allowed but we will continue to advocate for it.”

The city is looking at a $28 million hole in their budget just from mid March through June. Next year, they are looking at a $47

million shortfall in a $125 million budget.

Many of the construction projects continue and building plans are still being submitted.

“Without tourism able to safely resume, we are going to have significant reductions in the services we provide,” said Kors. “Palm Springs and other cities in the valley will have to adapt to the circumstances.” “Overwhelmingly, the residents and businesses in Palm Springs have been wonderful,” said Kors. “People have really stepped up and taken the situation seriously. As a result, we went from a hot spot in Palm

Springs, in the number of cases and deaths,

to fortunately, not having had a death since April 18 th . The rate of increases in infections spiked with Palm Springs having testing sites early on at Desert Aids Project and Desert Regional hospital.

We have seen the increases flatten. That’s all thanks to our residents and businesses for doing the right thing. By continuing to wear

face masks and practice physical distancing, we will not only be able to protect the health of our residents and workers, but we are able to help our economy.”

When it comes to the big events returning to the valley, Palm Springs would gladly welcome the visitors as long as the criteria is met and there is no longer a threat to the community. People who use the Palm Springs International Airport, whether flying in or out, is a public health concern. Flights have dropped more than 90 percent.

“The Governor has made it clear that those big events will be the last phase to be allowed,” said Kors. “We are always hopeful that we will reach the criteria he has set. In order for those events to happen in Palm Springs and the valley, there needs to be a treatment or vaccine in place. The large events are so important to our residents, our workers and economy, but of course public health comes first and we will follow the Governor’s guidelines.”

Forty percent of Palm Springs’ population is over 60 years old. Both the city and valley have higher incidents of asthma, heart and pulmonary disease, diabetes and HIV, which are underlying conditions making those residents more vulnerable to the Corona virus.

“Given the vulnerability of our community, it’s really important that we not only take care of ourselves, but take care of our families, friends and neighbors,” said Kors. “That’s what Palm Springs residents and businesses have been doing and the results speak for themselves.”

Kors has discovered the need to provide the community with as much useful and thoughtful information as possible so people know exactly what the rules are, can see the data on the virus for themselves, and feel they are getting the most reliable information.

“Our website gets updated daily. It has sections for employees, employers, residents, renters, businesses so people can get information easily,” said Kors. “We have done several webinars. When people have the answers to their questions, they have less anxiety.”

As restrictions continue and some lift, there are people in the valley who fear their civil liberties are at stake. Part of Kors’ career was spent as a civil liberties attorney.

“I take civil rights very seriously,” Kors said. “You have the right to drink. You have the right to drive. But if you drink and drive, and put someone else at risk, you’ve broken the law. We go even further because of cost issues. You have to legally wear a seatbelt when you get in your car even though the only person who is going to get hurt is you for not wearing it.

Why, all of a sudden, is not wearing something that would protect you, those around you, and who are bravely serving you during this emergency, become acceptable to anyone? I don’t understand it. If we do

things to protect public health, we get the economy open faster, there will be fewer infections, and people will feel safer going out and spending money.

There is no benefit that anyone can show in allowing someone to go into a business without a face covering. If people are allowed to go to stores without face coverings, a lot of people who do wear a face covering won’t go because they don’t want to be put at risk.

Our workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants and hardware stores who see hundreds of people a day and are acting with such kindness and professionalism shouldn’t be compromised.”

During the crisis, the city has reached out to its districts, residents and businesses to consider how to make the most of the new normal.

“An idea came from a meeting I had with the Arenas Districts Merchants Association and it moved into a broader plan that we are working to get it done and do it throughout the city by the time were are allowed to reopen,” said Kors. “We are advocating to the state, and have had meetings, to allow

“By continuing to wear face masks and practice physical distancing, we will not only be able to protect the health of our residents and workers, but we are able to help our economy.”

Gina Nestande Mayor of Palm Desert

restaurants and bars to expand their outdoor dining in parking lots and potentially closed downtown streets like Palm Canyon and

Arenas, so they can increase the space to serve people when they reopen, making customers feel more comfortable. Who doesn’t want to eat outside in Palm Spring, right? It’ll be lovely. That’s the way we are going to come through this. We have to be creative.”

At this point, the Governor is not allowing leisure travel and the stay at home order is still in place.

“We have to work really hard to meet the criteria he set as a region,” said Kors. “If they are not possible, but we are close and can meet public safety, then we should be proposing those to the Governor. If travel is allowed this summer, Palm Springs is a great place to come. Summer nights are magical.”

PALM DESERT

“This is not about lives versus money,” said Gina Nestande, Mayor of Palm Desert. “I view it as lives versus lives. All lives matter.

Every day people are being pushed into poverty, which shortens life expectancy and creates other social problems. This is a very difficult situation.”

Nestande watched the Governor’s Friday, May 8, press conference four times to get an understanding of the second phase.

“I thought the Governor’s message was confusing. He moved the goal post even further making it more difficult than the CDC’s guidelines,” said Nestande. “I can’t find it in the constitution where it says what businesses are essential and which ones are not. It’s not a crime if you want to work and provide for your family. It feels like we are in a dictatorship. For those who want to get back to their lives, we need to. This isn’t sustainable.”

Palm Desert has 123 cases of the Covid-19 and 11 deaths.

“If we can get Coachella Fest to happen in the fall, we will come out of this sooner than later,” said Nestande. “For every one person who says they are afraid, I have five saying they want to get back to work.”

Nestande is compelled to get an antibody

test for her community in hopes to lower the denominator, which could reveal a lower death rate, and hopefully put things

right again. She has been in touch with a USC research doctor who has been conducting repeat testing.

Unlike the Corona virus test where it shows only if you have it or not, the antibody test reveals if you had the virus, carry antibodies or never contracted the virus. The test is a pinprick of blood and the results are available in minutes. It does not however,

John Aguilar Mayor of Cathedral City

reveal if you have the virus or are a carrier.

“Data is showing that for every positive Covid-19 case there are 50 to 85 times the population that have had the Corona virus. They may not have known it, or only had mild symptoms,” said Nestande. “What

the antibody test does is increase the denominator of those who had the virus. If we know there are more people who have had the virus, it will push down the mortality

rate. This data is the information we need to push-up to the county and the Governor to remove restrictions and open business.”

Nestande is working with Chad Mayes, California Assemblyman, 42 nd District, to find a project manager and obtain funding for a random sample antibody test of 2,000, like USC’s testing program.

“The county has received $436 million that is sitting in an account,” said Nestande. “There is also FEMA money available. To do the test properly it would cost $200,000. Researchers get a cross section of volunteers. And it has to be done again in another month to see if the numbers are going up or down. It’s a major operation, but they are doing it in Los Angeles County now. This is the kind of data we need to move ourselves forward.”

CATHEDRAL CITY

Cathedral City has the largest concentration of small businesses in the valley numbering 1,065. The city is less reliant on transient occupancy tax (TOT) than other communities and the car dealerships, the largest in the valley, contribute tax revenue. The dealerships have remained open as essential businesses with service and repairs. The city has 106 cases and one death from Covid-19.

“The city has planned for a rainy day and if there ever was one, this is it,” said John Aguilar, Mayor, Cathedral City. “We do not know where this is going to lead. The city is very strong financially and has strong reserves that this council and those before planned for. All cities are going to be struggling. We want to maintain our current level of service, balance our budget and increase our reserves if we can in this environment. We are not in a position to offer grants.”

Residents and businesses have reached out to the mayor, and the city has used social media to make sure people have the information they need to get through the challenges of the pandemic regarding both personal health and with ways to save their businesses.

“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t have some anxiety,” said Aguilar.

The County’s efforts to relax some of the protocols and take steps to open the economy are appreciated by the mayors, but many