Coronavirus updates: Fresno nursing home deaths; dog parks, bars reopen; 2-day school week?
A dozen deaths have been reported in the central San Joaquin Valley this week, linked to the coronavirus.
Fresno and Tulare counties reported two deaths each on Wednesday..
Tulare County reported a third death in its Thursday update.
So far, 49 people have died in Fresno County of illness related to the coronavirus. That number is doubled in Tulare County, where 98 people have now died.
Across the six-county region, 164 have died since late March.
The number of positive cases of coronavirus continues to surge across the region, growing at an average of 178 new cases each day. There have been 7,062 cases reported in the Valley as of Thursday morning. Nearly 200 people are hospitalized, including 107 in Fresno County. More than 3,200 people have recovered.
Cases, deaths continue to climb at area nursing homes
Of the 49 deaths reported in Fresno County, at least half have come from a single outbreak.
At least one health care worker at Dycora Transitional Health & Living-Fresno has died from illness related to the coronavirus, according to recently released state records. It is the first reported staff death at a skilled nursing facility in the central San Joaquin Valley. Twenty-five patient deaths have been reported at the facility.
That is the fifth-largest number of deaths at any one skilled nursing facility in California. Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia has the most patient deaths with 29, followed by three homes in Los Angeles County, according to state data.
Fresno dog parks open next week
In welcome news for dog owners, the city of Fresno announced on Thursday that it would reopen its dog parks starting next week.
The park will have new restrictions, including modified hours and capacity limits.
Visitors are asked to not congregate in groups and maintain a minimum of six feet distance with no physical contact with others. Dogs should not interact with other dogs unless part of the same household. Facial covers (masks) are required.
The city’s nine dog parks will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily. The parks and Roeding and Woodward parks will be open from 6 a..m to 7 p.m.
The parking lots at City-owned parks will remain closed.
Council OKs Tower District parklets
The Fresno City Council on Thursday approved a resolution to build temporary parklets in the Tower District. The parklets will be paid for with up to $100,000 from the CARES Act to be given to the Tower District Marketing Committee for use.
The parklets will allow restaurants the ability to expand their service area space in a safe manner.
Councilmembers Esmerelda Soria and Nelson Esparza along with Council President Miguel Arias introduced the resolution.
“Providing temporary outdoor dining area space through Temporary Parklets will provide for CDC recommended social distances, provide barriers for a safe dining area and allow restaurants to rehire staff,” Soria said in a news release.
‘Feeling great, beautiful day!’ in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park open to the wider public Thursday.
While day-use reservations are required for the park, at least one person didn’t let that stop them him from making the trek. About 1,700 day-use vehicles and another 1,900 with overnight reservations will be in the park each day – approximately half of Yosemite’s normal daily visitor capacity, officials said. Yosemite had more than 4.5 million visitors last year.
Day-use reservations will be required to enter Yosemite at least into October, according to the park’s phased reopening plan.
Yosemite Valley lodging – The Ahwahnee, Curry Village, and Yosemite Valley Lodge – will reopen Saturday. Curry Village will open at 50% capacity, and The Ahwahnee will open to hotel guests only – including its dining room, bar and spacious lounge.
Bars, wineries look to reopen on Friday
Friday looks to be a big day for Fresno County bars, as local health officials on Wednesday confirmed those businesses can reopen.
The local openings fit with the state’s Resilience Roadmap, as more businesses are allowed to reopen with modifications following months of stay-at-home orders. In a news conference Wednesday, Fresno County health officials said the reopening of family entertainment centers (including movie theaters) would be delayed until June 26.
Some bars and wineries have opened already, or were able to remain open because they serve food.
State guidelines call for limiting capacity, by 50% in some cases, removing bar stools to create social distancing and asking customers to wear a mask while entering and ordering their drinks.
Fresno Superior Court to reopen
Fresno County Superior Court is slowly resuming operations as officials begin to loosen restrictions put in place in March, when the county’s criminal courts were closed to the public.
The court will begin hearing cases on Monday for people who are out of custody and will also restart hearing jury trials. The video conferencing app Zoom will still be used to hold arraignments, status conferences and sentencing hearings. Most of those hearings have been live streamed on YouTube.
Selma schools consider two-day schedule this fall
Summer has only begun, but school districts across the region are grappling with how to reopen safely and effectively in the fall.
Selma Unified School District unveiled a proposed schedule that would run two days a week, with an option for full home learning for parents who choose. The schedule would affects all elementary, middle, alternative and high schools and calls for in-person classes two days a week, and distance learning from home the other three.
The district is seeking student and parent input via a survey before making a final decision.
Watch ‘COVID-19 Bending the Curve’ Part 3
The Fresno Bee and McClatchy presents the third part of its ongoing virtual forum series at 9:30 a.m., Thursday online and on social media.
“Impact on Health Care Policy” will explore the pandemic’s impact on health care policy, lessons still being learned and how exposed gaps can be addressed in preparedness and response.
The panel for the event consists of Congresswoman Donna Shalala; Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros; Linda Goler Blount, master of public health; Dr. Anand Parekh, MPH; and Peter Pitts.
Miami Herald editor for policy and politics Amy Driscoll will moderate.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 8:47 AM.