Coronavirus updates: Heat wave hurts struggling restaurants; Schools have trouble with Zoom

More than 50,000 people have now tested positive for the coronavirus in the six counties that make up the central San Joaquin Valley.

The region added 772 new cases Tuesday and has been averaging more than 900 each day for the past two weeks. Fresno County alone has added 3,338 new coronavirus cases in the past seven days, according to state data.

The county leads the region in positive cases, with 21,316 people who have tested positive since the pandemic began. Tulare County has the second-highest reported case count in the Valley, with 12,836, including 118 new positive cases added in an update on Wednesday.

Merced County has just over 7,000 cases; Kings County is at more than 550; and Madera County is just over 3,000.

All of the counties in the regions — save for Maripsoa County, which has seen less than 100 cases — are considered hotspots for the virus and remain on California’s COVID-19 monitoring list.

More than 600 people have now died of coronavirus in the region. That includes five deaths reported between Fresno, Kings and Merced counties Tuesday and two cases reported in Tulare County on Wednesday. The county has now reported 208 people have died from the coronavirus.

Tulare County has reported the most deaths since almost the beginning of the pandemic, though Fresno County caught up to that number this month. Fresno County has now reported 205people have died..

Heat wave amplifies impact of pandemic on area restaurants

Restaurants in the area, already coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and all its associated headaches, are experiencing an extra drop in customers as as temperatures climb.

Restaurants with outside dining, as allowed under state guidelines, saw fewer diners as the thermometer hit 107 and 112 last weekend. Business at the four Yosemite Falls Cafe locations with outdoor dining was 35% of a normal pre-pandemic weekend, according to the owner.. He called some employees and told them not to come in. Others got sent home early.

Free COVID-19 testing at Roeding Park

Health officials in Fresno County are looking to ramp up COVID-19 testing in local primary-care clinics.

And in specific neighborhoods, through a series of testing events.

The next Fresno event will be held 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Roeding Park.

The free event will feature drive-up and walk-up testing, plus grocery and face mask giveaways along with information on direct relief available from the city of Fresno. Organizers expected to service some 500 residents.

Appointments are not required, but can be made at online at unitedhealthcenters.org/appointment-request or by phone at 800-492-4227. This event is presented by United Health Care Centers, Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias and other community sponsors.

Online learning snags for Fresno, Clovis students

Distance learning got off to a rough start this week, after students at a Fresno High school turned an email into a 1,000+ reply chain, which included memes and a student mooning the camera.

At a school in Clovis, an intruder yelled an obscene word before being removed from an online class, in a case of what has become known as Zoombombing. The Zoom bomber also “held up a picture of some kind in the space of a second or two,” according to Clovis Unified School District.

Both school districts are investigating the incidents. Fresno Unified has disabled the reply-all function on its emails to students.

Is Fresno County running out of COVID-19 money?

Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig issued a warning Tuesday that the county’s balance of money from the CARES Act is dwindling and could be minimized by November.

“I almost want to go into a holding pattern just based on the spending that I’ve been watching happen month over month. I’m concerned that we’re going to run out of money here, really quick,” Magsig said.

Magsig made the comments before a vote that approved funding for two programs that would provide direct housing and business assistance for county residents. A $250,000 program would provide small businesses owned by women and minorities with grants. A second program grants $500,000 aimed at assisting with housing for residents experiencing economic shortfalls.

Supervisors were split on the vote, 3-2. Magsig, along with supervisor Steve Brandau voted against both programs.

To date, the county has spent, or committed to spend, about $50 million of $98 million it received in state and federal CARES Act aid, Magsig said.

This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 8:23 AM.