Coronavirus updates: Newsom orders California to stay home; Fresno-area hospital supply shortages
Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered all Californians to stay at home and avoid nonessential social contact to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Newsom on Thursday night said he hopes not to have to enforce the order, instead encouraging residents to influence one another to do the right thing. More than a quarter of the state’s residents, including those in Fresno, were already under some type of shelter in place or stay at home orders.
The dramatic measures are intended to slow transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 and spread the effect on the hospital system over time, a tactic that’s known as “flattening the curve.”
This is as cases begin to rise in Fresno, Tulare and Madera Counties.
On Friday, health officials announced three new cases in Fresno County, bringing the total to six positive cases in the county. Tulare County has seven cases, as of Thursday. Madera County is now at three cases.
Liquor store fined for price gouging
The city of Fresno has issued a $10,000 administrative fine against a liquor store for price gouging bottled water. It’s the first fine to be issued, though the city has investigated complaints at 44 stores.
The store, Super Liquor on the Figarden loop, was selling a 24-pack of bottled water for $16. Investigators with the city attorney’s office attempted undercover purchases and were quoted different prices at the counter, Councilmember Miguel Arias said.
Fresno-area hospitals short on supplies
Already, some hospitals in the central San Joaquin Valley are concerned about running out of everything from beds, ventilators, and masks to doctors and nurses. Some are seeing supply shortages, though officials at Valley hospitals so far have not reported a shortage of beds for the current number of patients.
Tulare County sheriff heads off rumors
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Officer worked to squash rumors that the National Guard is being staged in Visalia because of the coronavirus. In a much-shared Facebook post that went up Thursday night, Sheriff Mike Bourdeaux said he spoke with the California National Guard during a conference call for confirmation.
“They confirmed that the Guard is absolutely not implementing martial law,” the sheriff’s office posted. “The only reason the National Guard would be used would be to help deploy resources, like in the case of a fire or flood. And that is not a need Tulare County has at this moment.”
Fresno County homeless issues ramp up
Fresno County is working to get its homeless population indoors during the health crisis, though communication roadblocks are causing confusion and frustration, the homeless and their advocates say.
Hundreds of shelter bed have been made available over the last week.
Several homeless residents who spoke to The Bee on Thursday said they weren’t sure crowding into small rooms with large numbers of strangers was safer than staying on the streets. Others feared having to give up their possessions. They said shelter rules can be inconsistent and unclear, making them difficult to trust.
County officials said most of those concerns are unfounded.
Fear among Asian-Americans
The spread of COVID-19 has some Asian Americans in Fresno living in fear of more than contracting the virus.
There have been several cases of discrimination in Fresno County reported against Asian-Americans and tied to the spreading of COVID-19, several outlets have reported.
Fresno police are investigating two suspected hate crimes believed to be tied to the outbreak. In both of the cases, racial slurs blaming Asians for the coronavirus were scrawled across vehicles belonging to Asian-American families.
Sgt. Jeff. La Blue said police expect to make an arrest in the coming days.
Fresno Unified Superintendent does YouTube story time
Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson has taken to reading children’s stories (and offering his students some daily encouragement) on YouTube. Seach for #suptbob Reading Series.
Tax day pushed back; property taxes in Fresno County unchanged
On Friday, Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin announced that the Internal Revenue Service is moving deadline to file your taxes from April 15 to July 15. The IRS had already announced an extended deadline of 90 days to pay taxes without interest or penalties.
In, Fresno County is still expecting to collect property taxes on time. Those taxes are due on April 10. Officials have said the safest way to pay taxes during the outbreak is with a check by mail. The tax collector’s office will practice social distancing with those who go in-person to pay.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 9:33 AM.