Coronavirus updates: Tulare County sees 100 new cases; Barbershops reopen in Parlier

The projected number of coronavirus deaths in the U.S. has almost doubled to 134,000, according to a University of Washington model.

The model, which is regularly used by the White House, predicts the deaths will continue through August, with large increases in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Michigan specifically.

Numbers in the region

Tulare County confirmed more than 100 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday. It is the largest one-day increase in reported cases since the outbreak hit the county last month.

The number of coronavirus cases in the central San Joaquin Valley is now pushing 2,000. Fifty five people have died.

In Fresno County, health officials confirmed a ninth person has died of complications of the coronavirus. The 89-year old man lived in a nursing home. Health officials confirmed the death of an 86-year old woman, also a nursing home resident, on Friday.

Th total number of deaths in the central San Joaquin Valley is 55. The vast majority of those deaths have occurred in Tulare County, which has seen outbreaks at several nursing homed. On Monday, Tulare County Health officials confirmed another of the deaths was linked to Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia.

Fresno mayor announces phase one of reopening

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand will hold a news conference on Tuesday to announce the first phase of reopening Fresno businesses.

Brand will join Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer and Council President Miguel Arias at 5 p.m. at City Hall. The announcement will be live streamed on Facebook and on CMAC.

Last week, Brand extended the city’s shelter-in-place order through the end of the month and outlined his plan to reopen businesses in phases based on the level of risk they pose in spreading the coronavirus. At that time, he did not go into detail about which phase particular businesses fit into.

Barbershops, hair salons reopen in Parlier

Four barbershops were open and operating in Parlier on Monday, despite state orders from Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Leaders in the city of about 15,000 southeast of Fresno signed a proclamation on Friday allowing the businesses to come back online. So far, only the four barbershops and no beauty salons have opened their doors, according to Mayor Alma Beltran.

There have been 27 cases of COVID-19 in Parlier, Beltran said. Ten have recovered and only a couple faced hospitalization. The city’s action was based on the fact that many local business owners had been unsuccessful in applying for loans and unemployment. The city also counts on a large population of immigrants, many of whom do not qualify for aid programs.

Ready for golf? Fresno’s courses cleared to reopen

Public golf courses in Fresno are allowed to reopen, “as soon as they identify and meet specific social distancing protocols,” according to a news release from the city on Monday. That includes maintaining social distancing in the clubhouse, pro shop, and tees and greens and having no direct physical contact between golf course employees and guests, among other things.

Disc golf will also reopen Woodward Park as soon as signs with health and social distancing protocols are posted.

The new policy from Mayor Lee Brand aligns with Newsom’s announcement earlier Monday, which allowed some businesses to reopen. The city also clarified its policy on medical and dental care to allow health care providers to follow the guidance of the California Department of Public Health, the Fresno County Department of Public Health and their respective licensing authorities regarding their services.

Clovis to Newsom; let the city reopen

The Clovis City Council on Monday approved two letters to Newsom. In one, the city requested funding for coronavirus relief. In the other, it asked permission to allow businesses to reopen.

The letters were approved unanimously with minor changes.

Fresno County reported on Monday 42 Clovis residents were positive for COVID-19. About 117,000 people live in the city.

Tower loses tap room, concert venue

Full Circle Olympic, the craft beer tap room and entertainment venue in the Tower District, is closing its doors for good.

Local brewery Full Circle took over the space, which used to be Club Fred and Audie’s Olympic Tavern, about a year and a half ago. It served Full Circle beer at the bar and hosting concerts and other events.

“Like many small businesses, we have struggled with a significant loss of revenue during this unprecedented time. In the age of social distancing, anticipated future crowd limitations and no immediate guidance on re-opening of Fresno’s restaurant or breweries we have made the difficult decision to close our Tower location,” the brewery posted on Facebook.

The original Full Circle Brewing Co. at 620 F St. remains in business. It’s only doing sales of beer through pickup and delivery right now because of the shelter-in-place order, which took effect in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rumors aside, Roger Rocka’s is not closing

Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater, home to Good Company Players and a longtime staple in Fresno’s theater art scene, has been closed since March.

And it has every intention to reopen, regardless of rumors to the contrary that began circulation on Monday.

According to the Munro Review, a promotional segment for Ray Appleton’s KMJ talk show caused a flurry of concern and sent the theater company into PR mode. Dan Pessano, managing director of Good Company Players, called into Appleton’s show on Monday to set the record straight.

Far from closing, the theater has been busy. In its monthly newsletter the theater said it has been in communication with people who have reservations, looking after the welfare of its employees and applying for the relief programs.

“Like the vast majority of small businesses we’re still waiting to see if any relief is forthcoming.”

The theater says it could be reopen by mid-June and that the set for its next production, “The King and I”, is already in place. Good Company Players has casts rehearsing for that show and “This Random World” via Zoom.

When the theater does reopen, it will be limiting audience size and assuring adequate spacing, “mindful of the fact that a fair portion of our audience is older (as are we) and presumably a bit more vulnerable to the virus,” according to the theater’s website.

In the meantime, audiences can still find way to support the theater online at gcplayers.com/home/how-you-can-help.

Production paused at Ruiz Foods facility in Dinuba

Ruiz Foods on Monday temporarily halted production at its facility in Dinuba.

The company shut down production lines at facilities in Dinuba and Tulare last week after several employees tested positive for the coronavirus. Since then, more than 75 employees have tested positive, according to news reports. A spokesperson for the company said it is no longer providing daily numbers to the media.

“The entire Covid-19 situation is fluid and the numbers we secure from Tulare County HHS do not always coincide with what we are learning internally testing. We will continue to work closely with the TCHHS,” the company said, in a statement.

“Our focus is … and must be … to test our team members, notify them about what we are learning, and prepare and manage our operations.”

The company’s Tulare facility is still operating, with “extraordinary and proactive measures” that follow all CDC, OSHA and local guidance.

This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 8:14 AM.