Coronavirus updates: Fresno County cases rise; second central Valley death reported

The Fresno County Department of Public Health announced 12 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the county total to 43 confirmed positive tests.

Health officials projected the number of COVID-19 cases will continue to rise as more lab work is processed and confirmed.

Kings County confirmed its latest case of COVID-19 Saturday evening. It is the second Kings County resident to be diagnosed with coronavirus. County health officials said the latest patient is being treated in isolation.

As of Saturday evening, the number of people confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus infection is 97 across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties. Two people – one in Madera County and one in Tulare County – have died from the disease.

Region suffers second death

There’s been another COVID-19 related death in the central San Joaquin Valley.

The Tulare County Public Health Branch announced Saturday that a patient became a second person to die from the novel coronavirus in the Valley.

The person had been the third positive case of COVID-19 in Tulare County and was hospitalized for several weeks.

How the person in Tulare County was exposed to the virus remains unknown, county Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught said.

Coronavirus case count

The United States surpassed 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, setting the country as the new epicenter for COVID-19.

This is just months after the first U.S. cases reported in Washington state.

Medical donations needed

The Fresno County Department of Public Health is preparing for the number of cases to quickly multiply in the coming weeks.

On Friday, the department issued a public call for medical donations as supplies dwindle..

“If you have anything that you’re not using that’s in good condition or unpacked or unwrapped, like masks or other medical supplies,” Vohra said, “please go ahead and contact us or an area hospital or even a fire station,” Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County interim health officer, said in a teleconference.

“I’m sure that they will help you get those medical supplies to a place that’s needed.”

The request is particularly helpful for first-responders, who might be low of essential protective wear.

Health department to businesses: screen employees

Fresno County also issued a pair of new orders for businesses and medical providers.

In one, businesses must now screen all employees for febrile respiratory illness on a daily basis.

Febrile respiratory illness is described as “new worsening episode of either cough or shortness of breath, presenting with fever (100.4 degrees) or chills in the previous 24 hours.” Any employee who reports symptoms of febrile respiratory illness is to be excused from work for seven days from the day they show symptoms.

Businesses must direct those employees to isolate at home and notify all close contacts to quarantine themselves for 14 days from the time they last had contact with the patient.

“Anything we can do to help spread ourselves out and to help minimize any inessential and unnecessary social interactions will actually minimize the chance that this virus spreads to our population,” Vohra said.

Also, health care providers must report daily updates on any patients they’ve seen with a febrile respiratory illness. Unless coronavirus is ruled out, patients will be directed to quarantine for seven days after onset of symptoms, or three days after cessation of fever, without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Can’t pay rent? What are you options?

With April rent and mortgage payments due in days, it’s important to know that, contrary to many reports, there is no rent or mortgage freeze. Those payments are still due for most Americans including those in the central San Joaquin Valley.

But state and local laws and orders can help shield some people from losing their home in the short-term if they cannot pay.

Here’s a guide for renters and property owners.

The return of full-service gas?

Restaurants and retailers are quickly adjusting to doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Fresno area that means the return of full-service gas at one station (for those over 65 years of age) and four-star restaurants like Erna’s Elderberry House offering a take-away menu. Other restaurants, like the popular Annex Kitchen, have transformed into community markets, offering fresh produce, meat, dairy, wine and grocery items like soap, along with food orders to go.

Grocery stores are installing taped marks on the floor so customers can be sure to stand 6 feet apart while in line. Some are also using plexiglass barriers between customers and cashiers.

College recruiting trips on hold

The coronavirus pandemic has wrecked sports seasons and disrupted everything from the NCAA basketball tournament to.the Olympics.

It’s also halted college recruiting trips for many central San Joaquin high school athletes, including San Joaquin Memorial running back Jordan Hornbeak. He was scheduled to visit three schools, UCLA on Monday. Those were canceled. A visit to Utah was also in the works but a date hadn’t been set.

“It’s going to be very hard to lose out on these months where your allowed to visit,” he said. “Who knows if the NCAA will allow us to get that time back?”

Trump signs relief bill

President Donald Trump signed an unprecedented $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law Friday night after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress to support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic.

Nearly everyone is eligible for relief including Social Security recipients. Use our calculator to project what you might be eligible to receive and go here for answers to other questions.

The Associated Press contributed.

This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 9:13 AM.