Coronavirus updates: Weekend case increases; Back to normal at Fresno bars, gyms?
The number of reported new coronavirus cases in the central San Joaquin Valley remained steady over the weekend, according to updates that came in from Fresno and Kings counties.
Fresno County added 69 new cases on Saturday, raising its total to 2,547, with 764 patients recovered. Three more patients were hospitalized, bringing the county’s hospitalization rate to 10.2%.
The county reported one new death in an update on Friday. It was the 17th coronavirus-related death in the county this month and the 52nd since the pandemic began. Fresno County interim health officer Dr. Rais Vohra called it “a significant trend that we need to pay attention to,” even as businesses reopen and people resume more of their pre-pandemic activities, increasing their potential exposure to infection.
Kings County reported a total of 64 new caes in reports Saturday and Sunday. More than half of the county’s 1,805 positive cases are related to outbreaks at state-run prisons in Avenal and Corcoran.
Tulare County no longer updates statistics over weekends, but reported 82 new positive cases on Monday, bringing the county-wide total to 2,646.
Across the six counties, nearly 200 coronavirus cases are being added daily. So far, more than 7,600 case have been reported, with the number of active (3,769) and recovered (3,685) cases being almost equal. One-hundred sixty-seven people have died.
First mass COVID-19 testing held in southwest Fresno
Southwest Fresno saw its first mass testing event on Saturday. The event was held at Westside Church of God, in coordination with Fresno County Department of Public Health and UCSF Fresno. More than 200 tests were expected to be given, along with free masks and resource information on the coronavirus.
What was it like at bars and gyms on day one of reopening?
Another sector of businesses reopened in Fresno County on Friday, including gyms and bars and wineries.
Busy at GB3, where dozens of people showed up in a steady stream to get in a first exercise after nearly four months. It was similar at The 5th bar in Old Town Clovis, which opened at noon and had customers waiting outside.
The bar, formerly Henry’s Cantina, looked different. Some bar stools had been removed and tables were spaced out. A taped-off area directed customers where to order at the bar. There were no dartboards. No DJ. No dancing. No live music.
“The hardest part is getting the regular customers and clientele to understand that these are rules and regulations we have to follow,” said owner Larry Haney.
Eagle Mountain Casino sets reopening date
Porterville’s Eagle Mountain Casino will reopen July 1, though it could be sooner.
The casino, which is owned and operated by the Tule River Tribe, closed in mid-March. In a statement on Sunday, the casino said the health and safety of team members and guests are top priority and it has been “very cautious not to open too soon.”
The area’s other casinos opened this month.
Fresno nursing homes get needed mask donations
World Financial Group’s Fresno office partnered with the Nurse Angel Network to provide more than $3,500 worth of protective masks to nursing facilities in Fresno and Madera.
Over the weekend, the group donated 10,000 masks to six different facilities, including Dycora Transitional Health and Living, Fresno, which was hit particularly hard by an outbreak and saw the first reported staff death at a skilled nursing facility in the central San Joaquin Valley.
Will Garth Brooks drive-in concert play near Fresno?
Mega country-star Garth Brooks announced he will do a one-night concert screening at 300 drive-in theaters across North America. The June 27 concert was created for the event and will be held in adherence to guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health mandates.
While the full list of venues has not yet been released, But fans are encouraged to reach out to their nearest drive-in theater (Madera 2 Drive-In, for example) to find out if they will be showing the concert. Those theaters interested in participating, can contact the concert’s production company directly at driveinowners@encorelive.com.
This story was originally published June 15, 2020 at 9:00 AM.