Recent wedding party in Fresno County town prompts coronavirus investigation
A wedding party last week in a small Fresno County farming town set off a public health investigation after reports surfaced that guests may have been exposed to a person who tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to Huron Mayor Rey Leon, the wedding party was held March 28 at an apartment complex in the city, despite the state ban on large gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“I just got disturbing news,” Leon posted on a Facebook group for the town of Huron, consisting of more than 3,000 people. The city has a population of just over 7,000.
In a social media post on Sunday, Leon urged anyone who attended the party to seek testing. Leon said he was told the guest in question was “from out of town.”
Leon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Officials at the Fresno County Public Health Department said they were aware of the reports of possible exposure, but could not immediately confirm until an investigation is complete. Privacy laws would keep the public from knowing exactly who was infected as well as their place of residence, however.
Health officials reach out to each person who may have been exposed to anyone with a confirmed infection, authorities said.
The mayor urged people not to panic and to take precautions.
“It comes back to being responsible, because we know this is real and not a myth,” the mayor wrote.
Many responding to the mayor’s social media post expressed anger, frustration and concern.
Coalinga Mayor Ron Lander, in a Facebook post, said his city had not gotten confirmation as of Monday afternoon of the case. Several residents inquired about it, he said.
Lander said he reached out to Huron and the Fresno County Health Department. He also urged residents to follow health guidelines and limit activity.
“While we currently have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the City of Coalinga, the best thing you can do is to assume that everyone has it,” Lander wrote. “Some people with the virus are asymptomatic and have no idea that they actually have it.”
Large gatherings are discouraged after the state’s public health office issued a widespread shelter-in-place order on March 19. Only services and activities deemed essential were allowed to continue operating.
Fresno County health officials as of Monday had reported 124 confirmed cases and two deaths. Of the 124 cases, 102 were in the Fresno/Clovis area.
Officials have been frustrated with the pace and availability of testing results.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 4:00 PM.
