Coronavirus updates: Fresno Nurse honored with vigil; Tulare County reaches 80 deaths

The United State has now seen 100,000 die from COVID-19 across the county, including 3,800 in California, according to numbers released by Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday.

Nearly 1.7 million people have tested positive in the U.S. There have been more than 100,000 positive cases in the state.

The central San Joaquin Valley saw another triple-digit increase in positive cases Wednesday, with the biggest bump in Fresno County, which reported nearly 100 new cases. More than 4,500 people had tested positive for the coronavirus across the six-county region as of Thursday morning.

Four related deaths were reported in Fresno County on Wednesday, bringing the county total to 30 people.

Tulare County reported its 80th death on Thursday, in an update that also added 39 new positive cases.

One-hundred ten people have died of coronavirus in Fresno and Tulare, with Kings, Madera, Mariposa and Merced counties have each reported fewer than 10 deaths. In all, 123 people in the region have died of COVID-19.

How many deaths, cases are from nursing homes?

The California Department of Public Health list format was updated on Wednesday to include more data on California’s skilled nursing facilities. The list now includes cumulative COVID-19 cases and the number of deaths per nursing home.

The data shows that nearly half of the 30 deaths in Fresno County could be traced to a single nursing facility.

In Tulare County, 29 deaths were reported as patients at Redwood Springs Healthcare Center. Four other nursing facilities in the county reported deaths of 11 or fewer patients.

In-person mass for area Catholics still on hold

While several of California’s Roman Catholic dioceses announced plans to resume in-person mass in June, it’s unclear when the Diocese of Fresno will restart its services.

The Stockton, Orange and San Diego diocese are resuming in-person masses on June 14. The San Bernandino diocese is resuming its service on June 13. Parishes within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles can resume daily mass as early as June 3, and Sunday mass as soon as June 7, upon approval by the archdiocese.

Regional church officials hope to have a notice issued very soon, according to the Diocese of Fresno, which covers Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Kern, Madera, Merced, Mariposa and Inyo counties and serves an estimated 1.2 million Catholics.

Bishop Joseph V. Brennan has formed a task force that will issue guidelines to the diocese’s parishes to follow once they “are able to resume public Masses,” according to Cheryl Sarkisian, new chancellor for the Diocese of Fresno.

“I do not know the timeline, as that is at the recommendation of the Task Force and the guidelines will follow all state and local health and civic mandates.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday issued guidelines for reopening churches.

Fresno nurse honored with vigil

A Fresno nurse was honored with a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, after she died of COVID-19 earlier in the week. Sandra Oldfield had been exposed to the coronavirus while treating an infected patient in March. She died on Monday at 53 years old.

Those who gathered paid homage Wednesday to the nurse, who worked at Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center. They also used the moment to express concern about the continued spread of the coronavirus among frontline workers.

Oldfield was one of some 50 health care workers, including 33 nurses, who were exposed to the infected patient in March, according to the California Nurses Association. Ten nurses tested positive for the virus, and three ended up hospitalized.

DMV reopens offices, including Fresno, Clovis

California’s Department of Motor Vehicles on Thursday reopened dozens field offices this week, after shuttering them two months ago because of the coronavirus outbreak.

That includes Fresno’s North Blackstone Avenue and Olive Avenue locations and its Clovis office on Shaw Avenue.

The offices are open for appointments and for certain transactions that can only be done in-person, like reinstating suspended driver’s licenses and applying for a no-fee identification card.

Customers will be required to wear a mask and maintain six feet of social distancing. Customers can opt for text messaging that will allow them to wait outside the building as entry into buildings will be metered and seating will be reduced.

The department has suspended behind-the-wheel driving tests and has taken steps to limit other in-person visits, like waiving certain late fees and extending some driver’s license permits..

CVS Health to offer drive-thru testing in Fresno, Clovis

CVS Health has expanded its COVID-19 testing program into 91 new sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations across the state, including locations in Fresno, Clovis and Merced. The new locations will open on Friday, May 29.

The sites utilize self-swab tests and will be available to those who meet CDC and state criteria. Those taking the tests must remain in their cars, though staff from CVS will observe the process to ensure it is done properly, according to a release from the company.

Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately three days. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com to schedule an appointment.

The company has a goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month at the 1,000 test sites it has created across the country.

Drive-thru testing will be available at:

▪ CVS Pharmacy, 1794 Ashlan Ave., Clovis

▪ CVS Pharmacy, 6800 N. Milburn Ave., Fresno

▪ CVS Pharmacy, 1970 Yosemite Parkway, Merced

Rotary Club of Fresno donates $30,000 to local nonprofits

The Rotary Club of Fresno has awarded three $10,000 donations to area nonprofits.

The Central California Food Bank, The Salvation Army, Fresno Corps and Cornerstone Community Care will receive $10,000 each. The money will go directly toward feeding people.

“Rotary is here to support our community in a time of need,” Fresno Rotary Foundation Chair Maureen Lewis said in a news release.

“These funds will be directly used by the organizations to purchase food items that are in high demand, including fresh produce.”

Central California Food Bank hopes to feed approximately 2,400 individuals, Cornerstone Community Care will make 1,000 grocery deliveries to disadvantaged families and The Salvation Army, Fresno Corps will purchase food boxes to add to the 500 boxes it already distributes each week.

Credit union gifts iPads to Madera hospital

Noble Credit Union is giving iPads to Madera Community Hospital to help patients and their families stay connected while visitation is restricted.

“While in the hospital, connecting with family and friends is vital to patients’ emotional health and can go a long way to improve one’s physical health,” Keri Bennitt, the credit union’s CMO, said in a release announcing the donation. The hospital had just two iPads and needed 20, according to the release.

The iPads were scheduled to be delivered on Thursday.

This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 8:50 AM.