Coronavirus updates: Fresno County has biggest single-day spike; renters stressed
The central San Joaquin Valley continues to hit grim milestones as cases of and deaths from the coronavirus are growing without a clear end in sight.
Fresno County saw its biggest single-day increase of coronavirus infections on Wednesday, when the number of people who tested positive for the virus grew by 597.
Across the central San Joaquin Valley, the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 climbed to more than 400. Madera and Merced counties collectively reported that COVID-19 claimed 11 more lives — five in Madera County, six in Merced County and one in Kings County.
That brings the death toll from the virus to 409 in the six-county region of Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Merced, Kings and Mariposa counties.
In Fresno County, where the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 reached 311 late last week, cases retreated to 284 as of Tuesday, according to state health department data. The number of severely ill coronavirus patients being treated in intensive-case units, however, remained at 65, the same volume as Friday.
Across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties, total hospitalizations of confirmed COVID-19 patients numbered 565 as of Tuesday, down from more than 600 late last week and through the weekend. Those include 114 ICU patients at Valley hospitals.
Blacks and Latinos stressed over rent concerns
Latino and Black tenants in California are much more worried than their white and Asian counterparts about paying their rent in the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to data taken by the U.S. Census Bureau.
From July 9 to July 14, the most recent week of data available, 43% of Latino renters and 41% of Black renters in California said they had no or slight confidence they could pay their rent next month. That’s compared to 33% of Asian renters and 25% of white renters who said the same.
For now, many Californians at risk of missing rent cannot be evicted. Gov. Gavin Newsom has extended local governments’ ability to ban evictions until Sept. 30. The California Legislature is considering multiple bills to extend that ban on evictions further.
But eviction bans don’t ease the burden of owing rent payments eventually, meaning debts can pile up.
Foulmouthed salon owner behaves badly
A salon owner who hit a Fresno code enforcement officer with her car last week in a Target parking lot was upset after being served two pandemic shutdown notices, according to an internal city email obtained by The Fresno Bee.
The salon is identified in the email, but The Bee was unable to reach the salon or salon owner for comment. A woman in the salon’s parking lot yelled profanities at a code enforcement officer before the altercation.
“F--- you. F--- Mayor Brand. F--- Newsom. F--- you all. Find something better to do. I hope you all die. Somebody should put a bullet in your brain,” the woman shouted, according to the email.
Nursing home sued over COVID-19
The family of Santiago Gonzalez, an 87-year-old former resident of Redwood Springs Healthcare Center in Visalia, is suing the nursing home for wrongful death after he contracted COVID-19 and died.
The family alleges in the lawsuit, filed by their attorney Warren Paboojian, that the healthcare center failed to protect its staff, employees and residents — even as COVID-19 was gaining a foothold in Tulare County.
No-cost COVID-19 testing
United Health Centers will be hosting no-cost COVID-19 testing Friday and Saturday at Lion’s Park in central Fresno.
Tests will only be administered with an appointment. Appointments can be made at unitedhealthcenters.org or by calling 800-492-4227.
Face masks will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 7:59 AM.
