Coronavirus updates: Tulare County reports 4 deaths; Tachi Palace casino reopening this week

More than 400 new coronavirus cases (and five deaths) were reported in the central San Joaquin Valley over the Memorial Day weekend, though several counties did not issue updates until Tuesday, due to the holiday.

Kings County reported a triple-digit jump in cases, driven in part by an outbreak at Avenal State Prison, where at least 115 inmates have tested positive. The county previously saw an outbreak among employees at the Central Valley Meat Company in Hanford.

Tulare County on Tuesday confirmed 130 new cases – and four deaths – over the three-day weekend.

Merced County confirmed its seventh death on Monday.

The total number of cases across the six-county region was 4,311 as of Tuesday morning. One-hundred-thirteen people have died. Nearly 1,500 people have recovered.

More farmer’s markets reopen in Fresno

This is the height of farmers market season in Fresno. Peaches, nectarines and corn are starting to show up at markets (and Fresno State corn is here). Blueberries, cherries and strawberries are all in various stages of their seasons.

Here is a list of Fresno farmers markets that are now open along with the social distancing information you need to know before heading out.

State standards adopted for churches, despite objections

Leaders from a couple of Fresno’s largest churches on Tuesday asked for special permission to allow large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, but they failed to get the support of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

The board voted 3-2 to adopt the state standards for reopening churches, which requires social distancing, masks and shortened services. The standards also require the churches to allow only 25% of the church’s capacity or 100 people, whichever is smaller.

Second wave of business loans available in Fresno

Small businesses in Fresno can apply for loans up to $10,000 in a second wave of COVID-19 relief dollars for the Save Our Small Business program. The loans are available to businesses of 25 or fewer employees if they apply by 11:59 p.m. on June 5.

Businesses of five or fewer employees can get loans of $5,000 and those with 25 or fewer can receive $10,000. The loans are forgivable if the businesses continues to operate for at least a year.

The city will also make 10,000 masks available for small businesses to give to shoppers while another 4,000 would be available for employees.

Season begins for Fresno State sweet corn

Fresno State’s farm market was hoping to downplay some the arrival of its sweet corn this season.

Still, more than 300 people showed up at the university’s Gibson Farm Market when it opened at 8 a.m. Monday. They stood — masked and six feet apart — in one of two lines that took anywhere from 30 minutes to more than an hour.

Monday’s batch of corn was gone by the afternoon, with 34,521 ears of corn sold. More will be harvested and sold Tuesday.

Tachi Palace casino reopens May 28

Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore will begin the first phase of its reopening Thursday.

Phase one will include the hotel, the slot machine floor and a limited number of the casino’s restaurants. Table games are expected to reopen two weeks later.

“We have missed our patrons and are excited to welcome them back,” Michael Olujic, general manager of Tachi Palace Casino Resort, said in a news release. “Of course, the health and safety of our guests and team members remain our top priority and we have implemented numerous protective measures including reconfiguring the slot floor, adding separation shields and additional sanitizing stations.“

The casino will use infrared cameras to determine body temperatures of all workers and guests as they enter. Anyone exceeding the temperature limit will not be allowed inside and anyone who is coughing and/or sneezing will be asked to leave.

Masks are required and you must be 21 to enter.

The casino’s bingo hall and Coyote Entertainment Center will open as part of phase two, though no date has been set.

Last week, Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in Coarsegold announced it would partially reopen June 1.

Fashion Fair mall reopens

Fresno’s Fashion Fair Mall, closed since late March, reopened Tuesday as the city lifts its shelter in place order and the county moves into Phase 2.5 of the state’s reopening plan.

The mall will have significantly enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols, with a focus on frequent touchpoints and other safeguards to assure appropriate social distancing.

For now, the mall’s hours of operations are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday, though it is unclear which stores will open.

DUI suspect free on $0 bail

A Kingsburg man was arrested – and released on zero bail – after allegedly cussing out a deputy and running a woman off the road while driving under the influence.

According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the man would normally have been held on $120,000 bail, but he was released after less than four hours because he qualified for $0 bail under California’s emergency bail schedule, created to reduce county jail populations as a precaution against the coronavirus.

The man still faces charges of DUI, evading police and crashing his vehicle resulting in the injury of another person.

California’s Judicial Council has released an expanded list of no-bail, early-release offenses in April. It has since come under fire from county sheriffs and district attorneys including Tim Ward in Tulare County.

This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 8:44 AM.