Protect family by skipping Easter gatherings, Fresno officials warn. And about those parades ...
A top Fresno County health official urged people to stay home and practice social distancing during the upcoming Easter weekend, calling gatherings “dangerous” because of the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
“I know that that’s very hard to hear on the occasion of a holiday that everyone is used to celebrating,” county interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra said during a Wednesday news briefing. “But that is something that people do have to take to heart. This year, we’re going to need to make some changes in all the different traditions that we have, and all the different ways that we celebrate holidays.”
If one COVID-19 infected person attends a gathering, that person could spark an infection cluster, Vohra said. He urged residents to protect family members, especially vulnerable ones, by avoiding gatherings.
Fresno-area parks traditionally fill up on Easter as families and friends meet up for barbecues and fun.
Fresno County and the cities of Fresno and Clovis have restricted park access for the weekend holiday. Fresno County and the city completely closed their parks. Clovis is cutting off access to playgrounds, picnic areas and exercise equipment.
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand also has expressed concerns about Easter gatherings.
“Traditionally these are two of the busiest days at our parks and they attract large crowds of people,” Brand said. “In this COVID-19 period it would be very dangerous to keep them open.”
“Primarily we’re going to rely on voluntary compliance, but we’ll have to take a look at other measures,” he said.
No more parades
Additionally, Vohra said officials from both Fresno and Madera counties discourage the kind of vehicle celebration parades that many, especially teachers, have done to try and create some interaction. Instead, he recommended video celebrations.
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 6:10 PM.