Coronavirus updates: Tulare County confirms four more dead; Fresno County lags on testing

Four new coronavirus-related deaths were reported in Tulare County on Tuesday.

So far, 22 people have died of coronavirus related illness in the county, according to updated statistics released by the county Health and Human Services Agency on Tuesday.

The county accounts for the majority of the now 35 deaths in the central San Joaquin Region. Three times more people have died in the Tulare County than in than neighboring Fresno County, which has counted seven deaths since the outbreak began.

Fresno County reported 20 new positive cases Tuesday, for a total of 371.

Madera County reported zero new positive cases Tuesday. Madera County has had 36 total cases, with two deaths and 25 recoveries.

Fresno needs to increase testing ten fold

Fresno County lags on daily coronavirus testing, according to new guidelines.

The county should be testing about 1,500 people a day for COVID-19 — six to 10 times more than the number of tests currently being conducted, Dr. Rais Vohra, the county’s interim health officer, said in briefing on Monday.

About 150 to 250 Fresno County residents currently are tested for coronavirus each day. Experts recommend 152 people per 100,000 get tested, Vohra said. There are just under 1 million people living in Fresno County. So far, 5,149 people in total have been tested, according to the county’s coronavirus data dashboard.

ACLU asks state for more details on testing, treatments

Meanwhile, The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California wrote a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month, urging his administration to release the demographic details of those who have died, as well as those who have been tested and hospitalized by the coronavirus. The group is sending a second letter this week, backed by more than 65 advocacy groups across the state.

Understanding precisely who has been tested and treated remains shrouded in mystery — and is key to ensuring equal access, according to groups urging California for more transparency.

“California has a known history of discrimination towards black and brown folks. Without data, we’re unable to assess whether we have equal access to resources and treatment,” said Abre’ Conner, staff attorney with ACLU in Fresno. “What is the state hiding?”

Fresno State brings spring sports seniors back next season – with a catch

The NCAA approved an additional year of eligibility for spring sports student-athletes who had their seasons and championship events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. With that came the immediate questions of how Fresno State and other schools would deal with the cost.

The additional scholarships for returning student-athletes at schools across the country ranged from $250,000 to $750,000 and the Bulldogs, with 10 spring sports, would land somewhere in between. While Fresno State has welcomed all of its seniors back, athletics director Terry Tumey said the athletics department will not be able to fund any additional scholarships with the COVID-19 squeezing an already tight budget.

Returning seniors from 2020 in the equivalency sports can come back at the same level of aid they received last season, at a reduced level or with no scholarship aid.

Valley see drop in gas prices, demand

Demand for gasoline in California — and the central San Joaquin Valley — is down as many drivers comply with stay-at-home guidelines to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. And with that drop comes falling gas prices.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the Fresno market on Monday was $2.56 per gallon, according to AAA Gas Prices. That average – which encompasses all gas stations in a community – is 51 cents per gallon less than a month ago, when the effects of the coronavirus pandemic were beginning to be felt in California.

It is 90 cents per gallon lower than the first week of 2020.

Plummeting gas prices are having a negative effect on Kern County, which produces the vast majority of oil in California.

Bitwise resource website goes nationwide

Less than three weeks after Fresno-based Bitwise Industries launched OnwardCA.org, a new website to help California workers find emergency assistance and jobs after coronavirus-related layoffs, other states are lining up to bring the online platform to their residents.

Colorado activated its OnwardCO.org website on Monday. It is the first of at least 20 states expected to follow California’s and Bitwise’s lead in offering an interactive, one-stop resource for displaced workers to find resources based on where they live and what their specific needs are. As the platforms expand to more states, the idea is being dubbed OnwardUS.

Bitwise’s software-development arm, Shift3 Technologies, is collaborating with Oakland technology nonprofit Kapor Center, LinkedIn, Salesforce and MasterCard to help expand the concept to other states. Other private-sector organizations involved in OnwardUS include Zoma Foundation, Schmidt Futures, Twilio, Google, Indeed and Facebook.

This story was originally published April 21, 2020 at 9:46 AM.