Coronavirus updates: California pizza chain closes; Hospital numbers dropping

The central San Joaquin Valley added another 764 positive cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, according to data from state and county health officials.

More than half of that number was reported in Fresno County, which added 482 cases for the day. The county leads the region in the number of total coronavirus cases, at nearly 22,000. Tulare County, which added 304 cases since Tuesday, has more than 13,000. Merced County has just over 7,000; Kings County has more than 5,500 cases; and Madera County has just over 3,000.

Mariposa County’s case count remains in the double digits.

There have been 50,799 positive cases reported across the six counties since the pandemic began, with an average of 934 new cases reported each day over the past two weeks. That is up 100 cases from last Thursday’s daily average.

The region reported five more coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday. Tulare and Merced counties reported two deaths each. Kings County reported one person had died. In all, 627 people have died of the coronavirus across the region, including 173 since Aug. 1.

Some numbers are declining

The number of people being hospitalized due to the coronavirus seems to be on the decline across the state and in the Valley. The number of COVID patients in area hospitals peaked at 617 earlier this month. There were 445 hospitalizations reported across the six-county region on Wednesday.

Of those, more than half (233) were in Fresno County.

Statewide, the total of patients hospitalized with the virus fell below 5,000 on Monday for the first time in nearly two months. There were 5,058 hospitalized cases across the state on Wednesday.

Pizza chain closes Fresno restaurant

California Pizza Kitchen has closed in Fresno according to an email sent to customers on Wednesday.

“We have loved serving the community in Fresno and want to thank you for your patronage. Our location in the Villaggio Shopping Center has closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related lease challenges with our landlords,” the email said.

The business filed for bankruptcy on July 30.

T cells, not antibodies, may be key in COVID immunity

Scientists believe there might be a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to long-term immunity to COVID-19 — in the form of T cells.

T cells help in the body’s responses to foreign invaders and emerge after the body has been exposed to a pathogen. Some of these immune T cells can directly kill other infected cells being used as hosts for virus replication, while other “helper” T cells aid in the production of antibodies.

Research released last week revealed that 206 individuals studied who contracted COVID-19, including those with mild and severe cases, generated “robust memory T cell responses,” even in the absence of antibodies.

That’s good news for the development of effective vaccines and knowing how close we may be to herd immunity, experts say.

Free COVID-19 testing at Roeding Park

United Health Centers is providing free COVID-19 testing 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Roeding Park. Testing is open to the public, though preregistration is required by calling 800-492-4227. Results will be given in three to five days.

Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias will also provide free face masks and food distribution at the event.

This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 8:50 AM.