Coronavirus updates: Fresno city, county at odds over rules; Jail outbreak confusion

Fresno County hit what health officials called a “grim milestone” on Friday.

In the second of the county’s two updates last week, it reported that nine more people had died of coronavirus-related illness, meaning that 100 people have now died in the county since the pandemic started.

In that same update, the county reported that nearly 10,000 residents have tested positive for coronavirus infection and that the average number of new cases each day has been more than 265.

While most of the central San Joaquin Valley does not report numbers for the weekend, 23,074 positive cases and 333 deaths had been reported across the six counties as of Friday — and the majority of the cases (12,652) were considered active. The majority of those (7,133) have been reported in Fresno County. Tulare County had more than 2,500 active cases as of Friday. Kings and Merced counties had more than 1,100 each. Madera County was at 559 and Mariposa County had just four active cases.

Tulare County’s Monday morning update added an additional 213 positive cases and two related deaths. The county continues to lead the region in the number of people who have died from the coronavirus, with 167 of the region’s 335 deaths.

Hospitals near overflow

The number that is the real worry for health officials in Fresno County: those being hospitalized with confirmed and suspected coronavirus infections. Last Thursday, it was more than 280 patients.

Over the past two weeks, the number of confirmed COVID-19 patients being treated in local hospitals has grown by 82% — from 133 on July 3 to 242 on July 16, according to data from the state Department of Public Health. The combined count of those confirmed and suspected coronavirus patients, rose from 154 to 281 over the two-week period — also about 82%.

If trends continue, the county could be forced to open the 250-bed field hospital currently in standby mode at the Fresno Convention Center. On Friday, Fresno County officials did issue a call for trained medical personnel, including nurses, nurse assistants and others to help bolster ranks at facilities across the area if needed.

Fresno city, county at odds over employer rules

Last week, the Fresno City Council instituted a policy that all employers in the city must notify employees and customers if a worker tests positive for coronavirus — though some wonder how that will apply to employees of Fresno County working within the city limits.

Currently, the county does not have a blanket policy where it requires employers to announce an infection to everyone. Workers who report their illness to their employer are typically dealt with individually.

County workers have begun calling their unions about how the notification policy applies at their workplace within the city limits, according to Dillon Savory, the executive director of the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings California Labor Council.

Savory said county leaders are taking a slow, “laissez faire” approach to protecting their workers.

Is Fresno County Jail doing enough to protect officers, inmates?

Relatives of inmates and officers working at Fresno County Jail are demanding for more action to ensure the safety of those at the downtown facility, which is being described as lacking effective protocol to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Family members of inmates claim those with COVID-19 don’t always receive proper medical treatment, which would put everyone at the jail in danger, though any claims that the jail isn’t taking steps to ensure the safety of its correctional staff and inmates “is all false,” according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department.

As of Friday, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims announced 764 people at the jail had tested positive for COVID-19 with at least 40 of them being correctional officers. There are approximately 2,100 inmates housed at the Fresno County Jail and 500 officers who work there. There has been one hospitalization but no coronavirus-related deaths, so far.

Sunday services continue outdoors, online. Mostly.

On the first Sunday following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order that churches must once again cease indoor worship in Fresno County, congregations around Fresno saw varying degrees of change in the way they worshiped.

Some, like CrossCity Church in north Fresno hosted services outdoors and early to beat the heat. Others, like the Well Community Church, urged congregants to celebrate at home with online services.

At least one, Cornerstone Church, chose to defy the governor’s orders and and held services indoors at its home inside the Wilson Theatre downtown.

This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 8:48 AM.