50-plus new cases and two more deaths for Tulare County, as coronavirus numbers climb

As state and local governments debate the timing and process of lifting restrictions on businesses in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of positive cases – and deaths – in the central San Joaquin Valley continues to grow.

Tuesday and Wednesday saw triple-digit increases in positive cases across the region. The trend could continue Thursday.

The Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency confirmed an additional 53 cases in its Thursday update, bringing the countywide total to 969. Another 857 people are under self-quarantine and being monitored by health officials.

The update came with confirmation of two more people who died from complications of the coronavirus. The county confirmed an additional death on Wednesday. Forty-three people in the county have died of related illness.

For those looking to be tested, the county now has two testing locations, in Dinuba and Porterville, that are open to all county residents by appointment. So far, the county public health lab has administered 2,921 tests.

Around the region

Tulare County continues to drive the bulk of the coronavirus numbers in the six-county area. It has nearly 1,000 of the 2,204 total cases.

The next closest, Fresno County, reported 777 cases on Wednesday. The county is reporting the majority of the region’s recoveries (253) and nine of the region’s 58 deaths.

Kings County, which saw a large increase in cases from a single outbreak last week, has 233 total positive cases as of midday Thursday. One person has died and 34 have recovered.

Mariposa County stands at 15 cases total of the 324 tests it has administered.

Merced County added three cases Thursday morning. It has seen 155 cases total and three deaths. Five more people have recovered since the county’s last update.

Madera County had a total of 55 as of Wednesday. Two people have died and 35 have recovered.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 1:03 PM.