101 new coronavirus cases confirmed as outbreaks drive up numbers in Tulare County

Tuare County confirmed 101 new cases of the coronavirus Tuesday — the largest one-day increase in reported cases since the outbreak hit the county last month.

There are 858 positive cases in the county, according to its online update. Another 775 are under quarantine and being monitored by health officials. No new deaths were reported Tuesday. So far, 40 people have died in the county from illness related to the coronavirus.

While the county does report new cases daily, results from outside testing facilities can come in batches and result in large daily increases, said Tulare County Health and Human Services spokesperson Tammie Weyker-Adkins.

Additionally, new outbreaks at several skilled nursing facilities and among employees at Ruiz Foods facilities in Tulare and Dinuba have impacted the numbers, as has the availability of testing.

Ruiz Foods held a testing event this past weekend, Weyker-Adkins said.

And some of these cases are also the result of multiple families hanging out over the Easter weekend, she said.

“We’re seeing the effects from 2-14 days ago.”

Elsewhere in the region

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

Fresno County on Monday afternoon reported 672 positive cases from 7,896 tests, with 236 recoveries. Nine people have died.

Also on Monday afternoon, Madera County reported three new positive cases for a total of 54. Two people have died and 30 have recovered.

Mariposa County has 14 confirmed cases total of the 252 tests it has administered.

Merced County added one case on Tuesday and now has 147 cases total and three deaths. Eighty-one people had recovered. One person was re-infected.

Kings County counted 198 total positive cases as of Monday. One person has died and 28 have recovered.