Coronavirus updates: Three more deaths in Tulare County; Fresno names grant, loan recipients

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tripled the number of coronavirus symptoms it lists on its website.

The federal organization previously listed fever, cough and shortness of breath as symptoms of COVID-19. To that list, they have added “chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell,” the CDC said.

This is the first time the CDC has increased the number of signs of the disease, since the outbreak began, though many patients have reported a wide range of symptoms.

Numbers in the region

Another three people have died in Tulare County after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Tulare County Health and Human Service confirmed the deaths in its daily update online, along with 19 news cases of the virus. This brings the county’s total number of cases to 472.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the central San Joaquin Valley topped 1,000 this week and continues to climb. Currently, there are 1,066 cases in the six-county region.

Fresno names loan, grant recipients

More than 100 business owners were notified Friday that they’re recipients of loans or grants from the city of Fresno’s “Save our Small Business” program.

The businesses include barbers and salons, coffee shops, restaurants, plumbers, food trucks, daycare centers and more. More than 2,600 businesses applied for the pot of $750,000. Just over 1,000 applicants qualified for the money, and 116 were selected out of a lottery. More than half the money will go to micro businesses, which employ fewer than five people. City officials estimate the loan program will help 485 jobs. The loans will become grants if the business stays open.

City officials hope to add another $1.5 million in funding to do another round of loans and grants.

Votes from Fresno City Council

The Fresno City Council voted unanimously to extend the city’s eviction protection ordinance until shelter-in-place orders are lifted.

Under the order, tenants must provide written notice within 10 days of a missed rent payment that they were financially affected by COVID-19 and have six months to pay back the missed rent. Tenants can provide letters from their employers, bank statements and hospital bills to show the effect of the crisis. The language was made more flexible to address the confusion several Fresno residents have been experiencing.

The council also voted to secure $3 million to help families and small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic. The relief fund would be split between consumer grants to help families avoid homelessness and small businesses and would add to the city’s $750,000 small business COVID-19 relief fund.

The vote was 4-3. The council will vote on an appropriation to secure those funds by May 6.

City faces massive revenue dip through next year

The Fresno City Council also got a look at the city’s finances, which could be down by $39 million for the rest of the fiscal year due to the coronavirus. Fresno has received about $146 million in federal dollars related to COVID-19 relief, according to city staffers, and has about $35 million in reserves, but officials are already looking at options like furloughs and layoffs to make up for the shortfall.

Ag industry leaders leery of workers’ comp changes

Leaders in the agriculture and business communities have rallied to kill a proposed change to the state’s workers’ compensation insurance, which they say could cost billions of dollars.

A proposed executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom, details of which were leaked this week, would substantially expand protections for coronavirus-infected employees who qualify for workers’ compensation insurance.

Under the order, any COVID-19 illnesses or death sustained by essential workers — including farm workers, restaurant workers, health care workers and food processing workers — would automatically be deemed work-related and covered under workers’ compensation policies, according to the insurance industry group Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California.

Graduation supplies company to close Visalia facility

Jostens, an American memorabilia company that manufactures yearbooks and other graduation items, will permanently close its Visalia facility by Oct. 15 and layoff 110 employees, with some layoffs starting May 17, the Visalia Times Delta reported.

“This plant closing and mass layoff is a result of unforeseen business circumstances, namely, an acute and unexpected loss of business for Jostens’ products on a nationwide scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” a letter from the company reads, obtained by the Visalia paper.

Jostens did not respond to requests from The Fresno Bee for information.

Area casinos remain shuttered

Eagle Mountain Casino extended its closure until June 1. The Tule River Tribal Council in a release Thursday night said it is monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and following guidelines to protect tribal members, team members and the local community.

Earlier this month, Tachi Palace Casino Resort announced the hotel, casino and entertainment center would remain temporarily closed. There was no indication on when they might reopen. Yokut Gas, located next to the resort, remains open with safety measures including full-service gas upon request.

Table Mountain Casino in Friant postpone its reopening date from April 12 to May 31 at least. The Table Mountain Rancheria Tribal Council implemented a “furlough program,” earlier this month, but continues to cover the premiums for our employees’ medical benefits.

Chuckchansi Gold Resort and Casino also continues its temporary closure and will reopen “when it is safe to do so,” according to letter to guests posted on its website. During the closure, crews have completed a remodel of the hotel.

Granville Home of Hope fundraiser distributes funds early

Ten nonprofits will receive proceeds from the current ticket sales of Granville Home’s annual Home of Hope event.

The home builder announced on Friday the early distribution of the proceeds so that the nonprofits can provide relief and immediate support to those affected by COVID-19.

The beneficiaries include Angels of Grace, Art of Life Cancer Foundation, Breaking the Chains, CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties, Central California Food Bank, Foundation for Clovis Schools, Foundation for Sanger Schools, Fresno Police Chaplaincy, Hinds Hospice and Parents and Addicts In Need.

For many of the beneficiaries, the Granville Home of Hope is their biggest fundraising event of the year, with a great amount of time and effort dedicated to selling tickets of which proceeds go directly to their organizations. However, because of the sudden increased need in our community, these organizations need to focus their efforts entirely on serving those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Granville Home of Hope has raised more than $5.8 million for community-based organizations since 2006. This year’s goal is to sell 8,000 tickets to raise $800,000 of which one hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit 10 local organizations.

This year’s Grand Prize is a 1,962 square foot, 3-bedroom, 2.5 bath Canvas 10 home, located in Granville’s newest gated neighborhood at Belterra. Fresno Lexus is once again a partner in the event, and has donated a two-year lease on a 2020 Lexus UX to be raffled off as a prize. Anyone who purchases a two-ticket Lexus bundle will be eligible to win the Lexus lease.

Any tickets purchased for the Granville Home of Hope will still be valid, and tickets will continue to be on sale until the drawing. Granville Homes will announce a new date for the drawing as soon as businesses return to normal operation.

This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 8:21 AM.