Coronavirus update: FAX employee tests positive; Newsom’s order enforced? What to do this 4th

Over the past two weeks, the central San Joaquin Valley has averaged 377 new cases of coronavirus each day.

The six counties added a total of 624 positive cases — and six coronavirus-related deaths — on the first day of July. Fresno County saw the largest increase with 281 new cases. The county now has 5,289 cases. Of those, 2,480 were reported within the city of Fresno, as shown in this interactive map, which breaks down the area’s coronavirus cases by city.

Tulare County reported an additional 198 cases and five deaths in an update Thursday morning. That brings the county-wide total to 4,521 cases and 133 deaths.

In all, there have been more than 14,000 cases of the coronavirus reported in the Valley. Madera and Mariposa are the only counties within the region where the positive case count remains under four digits.

A leading cause of death

Since March, 257 people have died across the region, including four deaths reported between Fresno and Kings counties on Wednesday and seven deaths reported in Tulare County since Tuesday.

In the region’s six counties, health officials reported 112 coronavirus death in June – a 38% increase over May, and 120% more than April.

That makes COVID-19, and the respiratory disease caused by the virus, among the leading causes of deaths when looking at historical data for the month. The calculation is based on the 15 leading causes of death for June in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in Valley counties, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Comparing those numbers, COVID-19 ranked just behind heart disease and cancer for the number of lives claimed.

Fresno Area Express employee tests positive; 2nd could be infected

An employee of Fresno Area Express has tested positive for COVID-19 and a second employee is suspected of being infected.

In a statement on Thursday, the city of Fresno said the employee who tested positive last worked June 27. The employee was asymptomatic until until the end of shift when they returned to the yard that evening and began to feel ill. The person was confirmed positive on Monday evening.

The second employee last worked June 29, when they began to feel ill and went home early. Thar employee was tested and is awaiting results.

Risk assessments and interviews were done and those employees who had contact were sent home to self-isolate for 14 days, as required under Fresno County Department of Health Guidelines.

To keep riders and employees safe FAX continues to:

• Require all staff and passengers to wear a facial coverings while on our buses.
• Allow buses to carry no more than 10 passengers to ensure adequate social distancing.
• Provide hand sanitizer on buses for passenger use.
• Provide disinfectant spray, wipes and masks to all employees.
• Disinfect each bus nightly via hand wiping and use of fogging methods.
• Health screen and temperature check each FAX employee daily before they enter our facilities to report to work.

Sneeze guards have also been installed across the driver’s area on most of its buses. until more permanent secured doors with sliding windows are installed.

Restaurant owners reaction to Gov. Newsom’s closure order

Restaurants in Fresno, Merced, Kings and Tulare counties were ordered to stop indoor dining on Wednesday — a decision met with anger by many restaurant owners.

The order will run for three week and affects restaurants, but also indoor wineries and tasting rooms, movie theaters, museums, zoos, and family entertainment centers like bowling alleys.

All bars must close, even if they are only operating outdoors.

Fresno police said it will not enforce the orders, which has been the policy of Chief Andy Hall for much of the pandemic. Similarly, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies won’t be asked to enforce the closure orders, a stance Sheriff Margaret Mims has taken for weeks.

The state is forming a “strike team” of seven state agencies, including the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, to enforce the new rules. Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties have all issued their own health orders echoing the state’s – or will soon – and plan to enforce them.

Tulare County’s order called for the immediate closure of bars, pubs, brewpubs, and breweries on Wednesday. The county said it would work with California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to enforce the order.

Fourth of July plans, affected

You will want to check your plans for any Fourth of July celebrations, as they may have been affected by the pandemic.

In addition to restaurants and bars, Gov. Gavin Newsom also announced the closure of several SoCal beaches, along with the closure of the parking facilities at beaches in several Southern California and Bay Area counties.

In the Valley, the coronavirus has canceled many long-standing community fireworks displays, including those at Bass and Shaver lakes and Wild Water Adventure Park in Clovis.

Kingsburg will host a fireworks display at the city’s high school Friday night, though it will be an “aerial only” display, and the school grounds will be closed to the public.

The Clovis Veterans Memorial District will host a virtual celebration in three segments Saturday.

The watch-party events happens at 9 a.m, noon and 5 p.m. on the district’s Facebook page and includes patriotic marches recorded by the AUSA Sounds of Freedom Band, plus remarks about Independence Day and community leaders like Clovis Community College President Dr. Lori Bennett and Assemblyman Jim Patterson.

No smoking at Tachi Palace Casino, for now

Tachi Palace Casino Resort will be a non-smoking facility starting Friday.

The casino made the policy change, which it called temporary, for the safety of guests and employees in light of COVID-19. Masks are currently required, and eliminating smoking increases the amount of time guests’ faces are covered. It also assists in air quality, the casino said. Designated smoking areas will be available outside at each entrance.

Table Mountain Casino banned smoking when it reopened last month. It was one of 15 tribal casinos in California that included the change with its COVID-19 reopening precautions.

This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 9:30 AM.