County health officer orders cancellation of all public gatherings of more than 250 people

A Riverside County health official on Thursday announced the cancellation of all public gatherings of more than 250 people in Riverside County amid concerns about the spread of COVID-19. The order mirrors recommendations issued Wednesday evening by the California Department of Public Health, according to a statement from Riverside University Health System. "These restrictions may seem harsh, given the relatively low number of coronavirus cases in Riverside County, but they are necessary if we are going to stop the spread of COVID-19," Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser said in the statement. Riverside County now has six confirmed cases in the Coachella Valley, as well as two additional cases from cruise ship passengers who reside in the county, for a total o