Answering Fresno-area reader questions about coronavirus: Mexico travel, wearing masks
As coronavirus continues to upend life in the central San Joaquin Valley, The Fresno Bee is here to answer your pandemic-related questions. While we’ve tried to address many of them in our regular coverage, in such a complex and evolving story some topics can slip through the cracks.
When the answers require information that isn’t readily available, we will solicit input from public officials and health experts.
Questions can be emailed to news@fresnobee.com or left at 559-441-6330. Instructions on how to submit news tips and documents can be found at fresnobee.com/news/investigative-tips.
With the effort to shut the U.S.-Mexico border, how are daily flights between Mexico and Fresno Yosemite International Airport allowed to operate? Also, how can the incoming passengers and flight crews be screened and cleared at customs in Los Angeles or San Francisco to be sure they are not carriers of COVID-19? Gordon P. of Fresno
On March 20, the U.S. and Mexico agreed to limit non-essential travel across their shared border for at least 30 days. However, U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and people with legal work permits are exempt.
To address the meat of Gordon’s question, I emailed Vikkie Calderon, the airport’s media and public relations officer. Here is her response:
“Flights between the United States and Mexico continue to operate until the federal government directs otherwise. FAT does not have the authority to place travel restrictions on domestic or international flights.
“Before departing from Mexico for FAT, passengers are being checked: temperature taken and a questionnaire filled out about their health. No passengers have shown COVID-19 symptoms. If passengers were to arrive at FAT with symptoms, Customs and Border Protection separates the passenger, then CBP notifies Center for Disease Control, who then talks through questions and CBP is told whether to admit the passenger to hospital or not.
“The health and safety of travelers and the airport community is FAT’s top priority. FAT continues working closely with the Fresno County Department of Public Health to stay informed on the COVID-19 situation.”
Current CDC travel notices can be found here.
Is there a quarantine for people flying to and from Hawaii? Anonymous
Yes. On March 21, the state of Hawaii ordered all individuals, residents or visitors, arriving or returning to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Why is the City/County not looking into utilizing the facilities of the old Valley Medical Center rather than or along with the proposal for using the Fresno Fairgrounds for coronavirus patients? Karl M. of Fresno
Last September, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors approved the sale of the old University Medical Center campus at Kings Canyon Blvd. and Cedar Avenue to a private developer, who intends to convert the 33-acre site into housing.
The later stages of COVID-19 include pneumonia. If we have had the pneumonia shot, will it stop this later stage of the virus? Larry D. of Fresno
The short answer is “No,” according to an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine.
Dr. Rachel Roper told the The News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C., that the pneumonia vaccine that protects against “streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria” does not protect against “SARS Cov2 COVID2019 pneumonia.”
American public health officials tell us that wearing a mask is not effective in preventing coronavirus infection, but Asian countries like Japan instruct their citizens to wear a mask. Why the different message? Alex A. of Fresno
That’s a tough question to answer, but American public health officials have prioritized managing a scarcity of masks, especially high-filtration masks, over speaking honestly about their effectiveness.
Remember when everyone went out and bought out every roll of toilet paper and bottle of hand sanitizer? They want to avoid the same fate for masks.
The World Health Organization advises that only two groups of people need to wear masks: those who are sick and showing symptoms and those who treat them. Yet during a recent press conference, WHO officials wore masks.
