Coronavirus updates: With new cases, Fresno and Tulare counties at 19 and 18; national parks closed

Fresno County health officials on Wednesday afternoon confirmed one new positive coronavirus case.

With the one additional patient, the county has a total of 19 cases, one more than Tulare County, where health officials earlier Wednesday announced one new case.

Merced County announced a second positive case on Wednesday. The person contracted the virus while out of the county.

Distance measures likely through April

One day after President Donald Trump said “America will again and soon be open for business,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told Californians they should expect social distancing measures enacted to fight the coronavirus pandemic at least through April.

The state has been under stay-at-home orders since Thursday in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The tactic is designed to space new cases over time — or flatten the curve — so the hospital system isn’t overwhelmed.

“We’re trying to bend that curve, but we haven’t bent it,” Newsom said Tuesday. “April for California would be sooner than any of the experts I talked to would believe is possible.”

Tulare County confirms another case

In its daily online update, health officials in Tulare County reported an 18th case of coronavirus, up one from Tuesday’s briefing.

Merced County announced its second positive case on Wednesday. The person contracted the virus while out of the county.

Five new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Fresno County on Tuesday. That followed seven new cases reported on Monday and brings the total in that county to 18. Madera County has seven coronavirus cases, with one person recovered.

Clinical rotations cut for nursing students

All but one Fresno-area hospital -Saint Agnes Medical Center - has stopped accepting students for clinical rotations. This could could add to California’s nursing shortage.

The hands-on training comprises 75% of a nursing student’s training and is needed to complete their studies at places like Fresno City College’s Registered Nursing Program, which graduates more than 100 nurses each semester.

The drop is likely due to fear of exposure to the coronavirus and to conserve supplies.

Fresno updates list of businesses that can remain open

The city of Fresno updated its list of businesses that are allowed to operate during the novel coronavirus threat. Officials say they will update the businesses allowed to open every Tuesday and Friday through the pandemic.

Grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations and a number of other businesses deemed essential have been operating since shelter-in-place orders were announced last week.

See the full list of businesses that can stay open (and which have to close).

Fresno-area doctor shortage

In the central San Joaquin Valley, the coronavirus pandemic is “exacerbating an already stressed system,” said Fresno County Department of Public Health Director David Pomaville. For years, the area has struggled to attract medical doctors, with physician-to-resident ratios well below what medical experts say is needed for adequate healthcare.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 may well expose the Fresno area to even greater risk if the relatively few doctors in the region become infected, health experts told The Bee.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks close

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, both in the southern Sierra Nevada, have closed to visitors, the National Park Service announced Wednesday.

Highway 180 will remain open for pass-through traffic to access Giant Sequoia National Monument and private property. All other roads and parking facilities are closed.

There is no word on when the parks may reopen.

Yosemite National Park closed Friday.

Translating the messages

Translators have become an critical resource in Fresno County, where nearly 19 percent of residents ages 5 or older do not speak English well and public health information in a native language is either unavailable, distorted, or released too late.

Spanish, Hmong, and Punjabi are the top languages spoken at home, outside of English, according to Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, and translators are creating info graphics, doing live question-and-answer sessions and recording informational alerts and online learning instructions.

Defense attorneys: Release elderly clients

Defense attorneys are trying to get their elderly clients out of the Fresno County jail, saying their health is at serious risk if they become infected with coronavirus.

As of Tuesday, there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the jail, although two inmates were tested recently after going through a screening at the jail. So far, state and federal judges have been reluctant to release anyone because of COVID-19, despite the growing concern about a possible outbreak.

“My concern is that we are waiting for an outbreak to happen instead of taking pro-active measures,” said public defender Stephanie Negin, who requested her 71-year-old client be let out of jail because his age puts him into the high risk category. He would be placed on a GPS monitor, so authorities could track his movements.

She was denied.

Fresno Unified halts school meals during spring break

Fresno Unified School District’s free meal distribution program is being put on pause during what would be the district’s scheduled spring break.

The district will not offer the free food service from April 6-13, Superintendent Bob Nelson said Tuesday night.

“Not serving over Spring Break is not a decision taken lightly,” Nelson wrote on Twitter. “Our food service workers have not had time to serve their own families since shelter in place enacted, and need time to get own situations resolved.”

Fresno Unified, the third largest school district in the state, has been handing out grab-and-go meals since school shut down.

Not all gloom and doom

Amid the onslaught of news, it’s nice to remember good things are happening even now. There are people in this world helping each other – from restaurants delivering free pizza to hospital workers, to teachers caravanning through neighborhoods with messages for their students.

This story was originally published March 25, 2020 at 9:54 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates: With new cases, Fresno and Tulare counties at 19 and 18; national parks closed."