Kings County adds 130 coronavirus cases, fueled by huge jump at Avenal State Prison

Kings County reported 130 additional positive test results for the coronavirus on Sunday, its highest number in a single day, spurred mostly by an outbreak at Avenal State Prison.

Health officials said in an early-evening news release that 115 cases are among inmates at the prison. The source of infection for the other 15 cases is under investigation.

“Avenal State Prison is currently testing as many inmates and staff as possible with assistance of the Kings County Public Health team and resources from the CDCR and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) COVID-19 response teams,” California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Press Secretary Dana Simas said.

“We are following isolation and quarantine guidance from public health experts to help curtail the potential spread of the virus. Health care staff conduct screenings multiple times daily to quickly identify anyone with new symptoms.”

Kings County has had a total of 647 cases, with 184 people recovered and two having died. It has the third most, behind Tulare (1,641) and Fresno (1,482), among counties in the central San Joaquin Valley.

California state officials granted the county an exception, despite its rising case numbers, to proceed with reopening businesses in the wake of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-home order.

A significant slice of the previous cases was tied to an outbreak at the Central Valley Meat Company.

This story was originally published May 24, 2020 at 8:28 PM.