Coronavirus updates: Clovis’ Freedom Fest canceled; Break the Barriers camps return

The coronavirus pandemic continues to swell in the central San Joaquin Valley, as the number of new cases grows by an average of 184 people each day. On Thursday, there were 170 new cases reported across the six-county region and four new deaths.

On Friday, Tulare County health officials added another 89 cases in its daily update.

In total, more than 7,200 people have been infected since the pandemic hit in March. More than 3,500 have recovered.

One-hundred sixty-six people have died. Ninety-eight of those have been in Tulare County.

The number of people being hospitalized for illness related to the coronavirus is also growing. As of Friday morning, that number stood at 195 across the region. More than half of the hospitalizations are in Fresno County.

Counties in middle of COVID-19 hot spot

Five of the region’s six counties are among the 15 California counties with the highest percentage of positive coronavirus tests over the past two weeks, according to a McClatchy review of state health data as of mid-week.

Only Maripsoa County, which hasn’t seen a new case since late May, is not on the list.

Fresno and Kings counties remain on the state’s ”targeted engagement” list.

Fresno tattoo parlors, nail salons on hold for reopening

The state of California issued guidance late Thursday setting June 19 as the reopening date for nail salons and businesses offering cosmetology services like facials, skin care, electrolysis and waxing, as well as tattoo and body-piercing parlors.

Fresno County put that reopening on hold for an extra week, the county’s interim health officer Dr. Rais Vohra said Friday. Those establishments will be able to reopen June 26, the same day family entertainment centers and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen.

The extra week will give the county “time for our team and our environmental health experts to work with these industries to make sure they have safe practices … to help get them opened up.”

A range of business including gyms, bars and wineries were allowed to reopen on Friday.

Freedom Fest canceled for 2020

Freedom Fest won’t be happening this year.

The annual Independence Day Celebration and fireworks show has been canceled, the Kiwanis Club of Clovis announced on Friday.

This would have been the 40th anniversary of the annual fundraising event.

“we are deeply saddened by the decision we have had to make to cancel Freedom Fest 2020,” said Larry Loucks, Clovis Kiwanis Club president. “This decision was not an easy one and will impact not only our community, but our vendors and our club.”

The club said the event could not happen as it normally would, given state guidelines for large public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, and that it ran out of time to find a suitable alternative.

”The organization continued to explore alternative ways to provide an Independence Day firework show for the community. The problem was time. We simply ran out of it,” Loucks said.

The City of Clovis estimates the economic impact of Freedom Fest to be well over $1 million. The impact on the community could be greater.

“This is truly a community-wide event,” said Greg Newman, CEO of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great tradition that will be missed. There will be a big hole in our summer.”

Freedom Fest 2021 will return in 2021.

Three in isolation at Poverello House

Three men are quarantined at the Poverello House in downtown Fresno after one of them tested positive for the coronavirus.

The men are in isolation on site but away from the normal flow of people at the shelter, Poverello House Chief Executive Officer Zack Darrah said Thursday. Each is staying alone in a trailer provided by the Fresno County Department of Public Health for just this purpose, Darrah said.

The Poverello House was alerted to the positive case by the public health department on Wednesday and that man was immediately isolated. Two others were identified as being in close contact with the man and put in isolation for 14 days. Staff is providing food and services for the men, who have been “strongly and regularly encouraged” to not leave the trailers, Darrah said.

Mayor outlines plan for $92.8M in aid

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand on Thursday unveiled plans for the $92.8 million in federal funding the city has received to combat the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the local economy.

The CARES Act funding the city received from the federal government would be split between $27 million for community efforts, $25 million for city efforts and $40.8 million potentially for revenue replacement and payroll coverage, according to the plan.

The City Council also saw a separate proposal on a $5 million effort to do mobile testing for COVID-19 in southeast, southwest and central Fresno through a grant with UCSF Fresno.

Reedley church plans first in-person Sunday service

The Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church will host its first in-person church meeting in three months, following several churches that are returning to regular services during the coronavirus pandemic.

The church’s lead pastor, Malcolm Light, said the church is hosting an outside 9 a.m. service to allow for more space. According to state guidelines, churches are required to limit capacity along with other measures to reduce the possibility of infection from the coronavirus.

The church attracted about 700 people during typical gatherings before the pandemic, Light said. He’s anticipating around 300 people for Sunday’s service. Live-streamed church services will he held following the in-person gathering at www.reedleymbc.org and on Facebook.

City Hall Street Art Event in Support of Racial Justice

P Street from Tulare to Fresno streets will be closed 8 a.m. to noon on Monday for a chalk art project to promote racial justice, according to a news release from Fresno City Hall.

The effort is meant to support Fresno’s African American community and the Black Lives Matter movement, the release said.

Parking in downtown will be relaxed for the event. For more, go to the city of Fresno’s Facebook page.

Summer day camps from Break the Barriers

Break the Barriers will offer Pixar-themed summer day camps starting Monday and running through July for children 5 to 12, according to a news release.

The camps offer classes in dance, gymnastics, parkour, martial arts, archery, aquatics and science. The Barriers team has planned safety standards for the classes, the release said.

Classes are $175 per child.

For more, visit www.breakthebarriers.org or call 559-432-6292.

This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 8:18 AM.