Coronavirus updates: No parties this Labor Day; COVID vaccine in the works for Nov. 1?

California added 3,712 new positive coronavirus cases to statewide total on Tuesday — the smallest single-day increase since June 16.

While the story isn’t quite the same in the six counties that makes up the central San Joaquin Valley, it’s similar.

Health officials reported 590 new positive cases on Tuesday; a number slightly above the average daily increase for the past two weeks. But that number (559 cases) is the lowest it’s been since late July and almost 400 cases less than it was on Aug. 23, when the daily average was at it peak (945 cases).

Fresno and Tulare counties continue to see the region’s largest increases.

Fresno County added 222 new cases on Tuesday, for a total of 25,185 positive cases. Tulare County added 266 on Tuesday and another 137 on Wednesday. It has now reported 14,442 cases.

Merced County has reported 8,032 as of Tuesday; Kings County, 6,341; Madera County, 3,836; and Maripsoa County, 73.

Fresno County also reported an additional 27 coronavirus deaths, to cap off what was the region’s deadliest month since the pandemic began. The county has reported 290 people have died of coronavirus.

There were four deaths reported in the region on the first day of September: two in Tulare County and one each in Merced and Madera counties. Tulare County added another six deaths in its Wednesday update and has now seen 240 people die from the disease.

Seven-hundred seventy-nine people have now died of the virus across the region.

Employees say Fresno County is ignoring COVID-19 health, safety risks

Frustrated Fresno County employees say the local government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has been inconsistent, bureaucratic, and jeopardizing to their health and safety.

Employees and union leaders say county officials have not been transparent about infections and exposures. County officials have refused to accommodate at least some at-risk employees, despite having multiple doctor’s notes, forcing some to return to the office or take leave, according to employees.

In early August, county officials couldn’t say how many county employees had been infected or exposed in the workplace. Later, the county’s Director of Human Resources said 97 employees had tested positive since March, but the of infected local government workers is likely higher.

The county’s Chief Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau did not address specific questions about worker claims or explain the county’s process for handling workplace coronavirus issues but said the government is committed to protecting employees.

“In the end, we have a commitment to balance both serving the public; especially during the challenges presented by COVID-19 and protecting our employees,” he told The Bee in an email last month..

Fresno’s top health official: No Labor Day parties

Fresno County’s interim health officer has a message for residents heading into the Labor Day weekend: don’t do what you did for the last three-day weekend.

“Any nonessential gatherings should be canceled. I know that’s hard to hear,” Dr. Rais Vohra said. “Please be mindful about that. Labor Day is not a time to take a holiday from safety.”

Fresno County saw its last major surge in COVID-19 cases following Memorial Day in May. That surge first appeared as an increase in new positive cases, and weeks later, was reflected in a rise in deaths in July and August. On Memorial Day, May 25, Fresno County had 1,482 cases and 22 related deaths.

CDC asks states for help in push for vaccine delivery by Nov. 1

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent a letter last week to the nation’s governors with an urgent request. The Trump administration wanted them to do everything in their power to eliminate hurdles for vaccine distribution sites to be fully operational by Nov. 1.

The Aug. 27 letter, from Dr. Robert Redfield, and obtained by McClatchy, asked governors to fast-track permits and licenses for new distribution sites. “The normal time required to obtain these permits presents a significant barrier to the success of this urgent public health program,” Redfield wrote.

The letter asks requests states expedite applications for distribution facilities, and “waiving requirements that would prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by November 1, 2020.”

It was the latest hurried federal request of state governments to prepare for the arrival of a vaccine.

Fresno’s Rogue Festival plans for virtual performances in 2021

On a typical year, Sept. 1 would mark the day applications open for Fresno’s Rogue Festival.

This year being what it is, the performing arts festival marked the day by announcing plans for an all-virtual festival in 2021, with performances streamed on Zoom.

Festival organizers will provide ticketing support and a virtual venue (Zoom hosting and virtual crewmember support), plus marketing outreach to our audiences. Performers, selected by a lottery, will receive one show slot each weekend of the festival. Shows will be performed live or recorded, edited and streamed from Rogue Festival’s Zoom account.

Tickets to all shows will be $10, with performers still receiving 100% of their ticket sales (minus online ticketing fees.)

In a post on its website, organizers said they are being proactive in the decision to pivot to a virtual festival, citing slow progress in combating the spread of coronavirus in the region.

“Our venues are particularly badly hit by the coronavirus as they are mostly closed bars, cafes reduced to curbside service, restaurants only allowed to seat people outdoors, or small live arts spaces that cannot fully operate right now. They are struggling and they don’t know what life will look like in March,” they wrote.

“Performers, too, are struggling and we’re keenly aware that many of them may not have the cash flow to commit to application and venue fees on our usual schedule. And we may not be able to commit to giving them a live performance slot.”

If conditions permit, the festival could pivot a hybrid model, with some live performances, mostly likely outdoors, under a tent and following all public health guidelines.

The festival runs March 5-13, 2021.

For performers: Applications will be accepted October 11-30 with the lottery drawn on Nov. 1.

Applications open for Fresno Arts Council relief grants

The Fresno Arts Council is accepting applications for a second round of grants through its Fresno Arts Safety Net Fund.

The fund is an emergency initiative organized by the Arts Council to distribute one-time grants of $1,000 (up to a maximum of $5,000) to art organizations and/or collectives headquartered in Fresno County. The unrestricted cash awards are intended to help art organizations facing immediate and imminent financial emergencies.

Organizations and collectives of any size or in any discipline may apply. Those that serve communities of color disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged, according to the Arts Council.

Applications can be found online at fresnoartscouncil.org. The deadline for submission is Sept. 28.

This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 9:07 AM.