Two coronavirus deaths confirmed in Tulare County, keeping its mortality rate high

Thirteen people have died in Tulare County of complications of the coronavirus.

In its daily update Monday, the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency confirmed two deaths over the weekend. One person died on Friday, the other on Sunday. Both were over 65 years old and contracted the virus through direct contact. A new death was reported in the county almost every day last week.

In confirming the most recent deaths, the agency also updated its total case count to 267. That’s a jump of almost 40 cases since the county’s Saturday update. Another 413 people are under self-quarantine and being monitored by health officials.

At least three of the deaths have been associated with the Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia, which experienced an outbreak.

Tulare County’s death total is more than half the central San Joaquin Valley six-county region’s 24.

While California’s statewide mortality rate from COVID-19 is about 1.4 deaths per 100,000 residents, Tulare’s rate stands around 2.3 deaths per 100,000 and is considerably higher than other central San Joaquin Valley counties.

Kings County, with just 10 reported coronavirus cases, confirmed its first coronavirus-related death on Saturday.

Other county daily updates were expected later Monday.

This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 12:43 PM.