Coronavirus updates: Tulare County cases jump by 22; 11 deaths in central San Joaquin Valley

The number of deaths in the central San Joaquin Valley related to the conoranvirus and the respiratory illness COVID-19 has doubled since Friday.

Fresno County confirmed a second death Monday afternoon. The same day, health officials in Merced announced the first coronavirus-related death in that county, while to the south Tulare County confirmed its sixth death.

Nationally, the number of people who have died has surpassed 10,000. More than 300 are from California.

Tulare County case increase

Tulare County saw an increase of 22 cases from Monday to Tuesday. In its morning update, the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency confirmed it currently has more than 150 coronavirus cases in the county. The number of deaths remains at six. Eight people have fully recovered.

Of the positive cases, at least 44 have come from Redwood Springs Healthcare Center, a 176-bed nursing home in Visalia. As of Monday, those cases counted for almost half of the cases reported in the city, the Visalia Times Delta reported.

The infection rate for the whole of Tulare County is almost 33 per 100,000 people. That’s much lower than in other parts of the state, where infection rates can top 70 cases per 100,000 residents. In San Francisco Bay Area the rate is at also 76 cases per 100,000.

Regionally, as Tuesday morning, the collective number of confirmed COVID-19 cases across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties stood at 345. That works out to about 16.4 cases per 100,000 people. Fresno County has a rate of 12.1 per 100,000, with the vast majority of cases within the Fresno/Clovis metro area.

When will it end?

During a news briefing Monday, Fresno County health officials said the county can expect to see a peak in coronavirus cases at the end of April, but residents can expect to shelter in place until the curve is more or less flattened nationally, statewide and locally,

It’s too early to say when that might be, said Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County interim health officer.

“Predictions are predictions,” he said. “They’re not hard confirmation of exactly what’s going to happen.”

Between now and then, the county could find itself short up to hundreds of intensive care beds and ventilators, depending on how well Fresno practiced social distancing and was able to “flatten the curve,” Vohra said.

So far, local ERs are not overcrowded with potential patients. Fourteen people with COVID-19 are currently hospitalized in Fresno and Clovis, Vohra said. “Some of them are critically ill,” he added.

Officials fear child abuse will go unreported

While abuse cases are down from mid-March, Fresno County child welfare investigators worry many child abuse cases may be left unreported while residents shelter amid the coronavirus pandemic – leaving young victims locked inside with their abusers.

Tricia Gonzalez, director of child welfare at the Fresno County Department of Social Services, said abuse reports are down about 36% since Fresno County began shuttering all nonessential functions. That’s likely because most schools are closed and the lion’s share of reports are made by school staffers, who are required by law to report any suspected neglect or abuse.

But she said she doesn’t believe there’s been less abuse. She worries the pressure of the public health crisis, coupled with growing financial struggles, has left many children stuck in a bad situation.

Teachers offer parents advice

With school campuses closed, parents are feeling pressure as they both teach their children and work full-time from home.

Tracy Edmunds, a professional curriculum consultant, recommends first and foremost for parents to “relax.”

“You are not expected to be a teacher,” she said at the Fresno Bee’s Ed Lab live-chat. “You have this opportunity for them to learn what they want to learn and what they’re interested in,” Edmunds said.

Edmunds created a list of free educational resources for all age ranges. Kids can do virtual field trips with National Geographic and even work on STEM projects with MIT.

The Bee’s Ed Lab put together a list of book camps to help parents keep their children busy while staying at home.

How essential is golf in Fresno?

Members of the San Joaquin Country Club are chafing under city orders that the course be closed as nonessential business during the COVID-19 pandemic. They want the city to reconsider its position, given that golfers continue to use Sunnyside Country Club, which is in county territory while inside the city, as well as Dragonfly Golf Club in Madera County.

The counties has chosen to let businesses and organizations voluntarily comply with the governor’s orders.

Wedding party sets off investigation

A wedding party in the Fresno County farming town Huron earlier this month set off a public health investigation after reports surfaced that guests may have been exposed to a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

The party was held March 28 at an apartment complex in the city despite the state-wide ban on large gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19. In a social media post Sunday, Huron’s mayor said the person in question was from out of town and urged anyone who attended the party to seek testing.

Courts closed, mostly

The Fresno County Superior Court will remain closed until May 1, with some exceptions. Initially, the plan was for a limited reopening on Wednesday.

Criminal and civil courts have been closed to the public since March 23, after state and federal officials urged people to remain at home to prevent the virus from spreading

The court will remain closed except for several matters, including temporary restraining orders, emergency probate petitions, in-custody arraignments, and bail review.

Also all criminal jury trials scheduled between April 6 and May 1 will be continued to a new date. Ongoing trials, including the death penalty case of Kori Ali Muhammad, will continue.

And end for sportfishing?

The spring sportfishing season could be closed in some California counties in response to worries that anglers will spread COVID-19 to rural communities.

A state Fish and Game Commission proposal would allow the director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife to stop or delay the fishing season only in certain regions at the request of local and tribal governments and health officials. The stoppage would last through May.

Some rural officials are worried that if the season is allowed to continue, anglers would continue to gather, leading to “increased and irresponsible public usage” in violation of both state and local social-distancing orders.

This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 9:19 AM.