Another coronavirus-related death reported in the central San Joaquin Valley
A Tulare County patient became the second person to die from the novel coronavirus in the central San Joaquin Valley, the county’s Public Health Branch announced Saturday.
The person had been the third positive case of COVID-19 in Tulare County and died Saturday after being hospitalized for several weeks.
Jose Sanchez Barriga, 67, suffered the central Valley’s first COVID-19-related death in Madera County, which was reported Thursday.
How the person in Tulare County was exposed to the virus remains unknown, county Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught said.
“Public Health extends our deepest condolences to the patient’s loved ones in the wake of this tragedy. We are facing an historic public-health challenge and know this is a very difficult time,” she said. “Our top priority continues to be protecting the health of our community, and we continue to ask that community members protect themselves and their loved ones by staying home.”
The Tulare County Public Health Branch urges the public to follow the governor’s stay-at-home order to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of COVID-19.
According to Tulare County Public Health, there have been 29 positive tests in the county, with one patient having recovered.
As of Saturday evening, the number of people confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties stood at 97. The latest case of COVID-19 in the central San Joaquin Valley was reported Saturday evening in Kings County. It is the second Kings County resident to be diagnosed with coronavirus. County health officials said the latest patient is being treated in isolation.
This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 4:06 PM.
