Coronavirus updates: Fresno County isn’t flattening curve; Clovis schools won’t reopen

The number of new daily coronavirus cases reported across the central San Joaquin Valley remained in double-digits on Wednesday, while the numbers of related deaths increased by five.

Of the deaths, three were reported in Fresno County and two in Tulare County.

The total number of people who have died of illness related to the coronavirus across the six-county region has now topped 100. More than half were reported in the first 21 days of May.

The total number of positive cases in the region is 3,629 as of Thursday morning, with the bulk of patients being seen in Tulare (1,552) and Fresno (1,338) counties. More than 1,200 people have recovered.

Fresno County hasn’t flattened curve

It is not clear how the statistics will affect Fresno County’s application to move further into Stage 2 of the state’s reopening plan. Gov. Gavin Newsom had said 53 of the state’s 58 counties would meet new, loosened benchmarks.

County officials on Wednesday didn’t know whether Fresno was among the 53 counties or the five counties, but that the county is not flattening its curve and has work to do.

Kings, Madera and Merced have all gotten that approval. Supervisors in Tulare County voted to flout the state guidelines and reopen without approval.

Proposed changes to Fresno shelter order DOA

One of two proposals set to be at Thursday’s Fresno City Council meeting was pulled from the agenda before it was even heard.

The proposal, from councilmember Garry Bredefeld, would have lifted all restrictions. Bredefeld attempted to put the resolution back on the agenda but his motion died without a second from his colleagues.

Mayor Lee Brand announced changes to the order would be coming later in the day.

Fresno church reopening

Fresno’s Cornerstone Church will reopen May 31, bolstered by a letter sent to Gov. Newsom by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday.

The letter says that California “facially discriminates against religious exercise” in its initial executive order, but the unequal treatment is even more pronounced in the state’s reopening plan. Churches would be allowed to reopen under Stage 3, while several other venues, such as schools, restaurants and shopping malls, would be able to reopen earlier under Stage 2, according to the letter.

The letter mentions a statement recently released by Attorney General William Barr on religious practice and social distancing that was released in conjunction with a Mississippi case in which the Department of Justice participated.

Cornerstone pastor Jim Franklin said the reopened church will operate under the same guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that other businesses, such as Costco and Walmart, follow. The church will practice social distancing and will make sanitizing available. Franklin said given that masks have been “controversial,” the church will make some available for those choosing to wear one.

State will take back emergency beds

Fresno’s makeshift coronavirus hospital will go into a “warm shutdown,” state officials announced Wednesday.

The 250-bed site, which was set up at the Fresno Convention Center by state and county officials to treat a potential surge in COVID-19 cases at regional hospitals, had not yet been used. Anticipating no future use for it, state officials said they would pick up their remaining supplies in the coming weeks.

Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig said local hospitals are not at capacity and did not expect to reach capacity. The county, however, still plans to backfill the beds at the convention center should the need arise.

Clovis school campuses to remain closed

Clovis Unified School Board voted Wednesday night to keep classrooms closed through the end of the year on June 5. It is one of the last districts in the state to eliminate the possibility of returning to campus.

Clovis school doors shuttered in March to stop the spread of the coronavirus, and trustees were reluctant to rule out returning students to campus this school year. Students will continue distance learning through Friday. The last two weeks of the school year will be reserved for students to do make-up work or end-of-year work.

Yosemite reopening plan

Yosemite National Park will possibly reopen in early June, according to a draft reopening plan released this week.

When it does, reservations will be required. and visitor capacity will be reduced by about 50% to promote social distancing in busy Yosemite Valley.

People with overnight reservations in Yosemite won’t need a permit to enter the park – or those driving through it to the Eastern Sierra – but those wishing to visit for the day will need to apply for a day-use permit through recreation.gov, if the park’s plan is approved by the federal government.

Day-use permits will likely be given out at least 48 hours in advance of a visit.

The park has been closed since March. Officials said Yosemite won’t reopen to the public until Gov. Newsom moves California into its Stage 3 reopening phase, which would include non-essential travel.

Sierra National Forest extends closure

Meanwhile, Sierra National Forest has extended the closure of most of its developed recreation sites through June 4.

Only six picnic areas and the Wishon boat ramp at Bass Lake “have met the guidelines of the CDC, and state and local agencies and will reopen,” officials said.

Continued closures of campgrounds and picnic areas at higher elevations are due to winter debris and hazardous conditions including dead trees. Visitors are asked to remain patient as crews work to clear dangers.

“Keeping these sites closed for any reason is not an action we take lightly, but protecting our visitors and employees, and local communities remains high priority,” read a post on the Sierra National Forest web site.

Trails, trailheads and general forest use remains open, and dispersed camping is allowed in areas where normally permitted. The upper gate on Kaiser Pass Road is scheduled to open May 30. The lower gate at Huntington Lake opened this week.

Outbreak at Avenal State Prison

The Kings County Department of Public Health announced on Wednesday an outbreak of coronavirus at the Avenal State Prison.

The department said that 27 of the 41 positive tests reported in a daily update were related to the outbreak in the prison. In all, 25 inmates and seven staff members tested positive and are now isolated.

This story was originally published May 21, 2020 at 8:29 AM.