Coronavirus update: Fresno heads into new lockdown as cases climb, ICU beds dwindle

As the coronavirus lockdown loomed over Fresno County on Sunday morning, stores, salons, restaurants, and other businesses prepared for the regional stay-at-home order.

The orders, issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 that’s surged in recent weeks throughout the state, go into effect at midnight Monday and will last at least three weeks.

The short-term goal of the orders is to avoid overloading hospitals in counties with less than 15% ICU capacity for the San Joaquin Valley region (from Stockton to Kern County).

The San Joaquin Valley (Calaveras, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare and Tuolumne counties) were at a combined 14.1% capacity as of Friday. By Sunday, according to the state, that number was 6.6%.

In Fresno County alone, there were only six ICU beds available out of 149 that are licensed, according to data reported Sunday. That translates to 4% ICU capacity for a county that has more than 1 million people.

In the latest COVID-19 count provided Sunday, Fresno County reported 460 additional cases of the coronavirus.

That means Fresno County has had a total of 40,568 cases since the pandemic began in early March.

Those numbers, however, don’t include those who contracted the coronavirus but never were tested and either recovered on their own or never experienced symptoms.

Fresno County’s coronavirus-related death total, meanwhile, is at 506.

On Friday, there were 18 new deaths reported. Health officials update the death toll figures on Tuesdays and Fridays.

In the span of Nov. 5 to Dec. 5, Fresno County surged by 8,512 new cases of COVID-19 with 59 coronavirus-related deaths.

That’s an average of about 284 new cases and two deaths per day.

By comparison in the span of Oct. 5-Nov. 5, the increase was 2,920 cases and 48 deaths (about 97 cases per day and less than two deaths per day).

Kings County reported 100 new cases of COVID-19 in its general population on Sunday.

The new total in the county since the outbreak began is 6,336 cases. An additional death was reported, bringing total fatalities to 83.

Kings County breaks out as a separate category the number of inmates infected in correctional facilities in Avenal and Corcoran. Among the prison population, there were 44 new cases Sunday for a total of 5,718 cases.

One additional death in the prisons raised that total to 12.

What will be closed?

Under the governor’s order announced Thursday, residents will be required to stay home except for essential tasks and outdoor exercise.

Among the notable closures and adjustments:

• Restaurants are prohibited from offering in-person dining, both indoors and outside. Only take-out and delivery orders will be allowed under the latest rules.
• Movie theaters, museums, zoos, and other entertainment places, including cardrooms, will close. Sporting events cannot be played before a live audience.
• Barbershops, hair salons, nail salons, massage outlets, spas, and other personal care businesses must shut down, too.
• Bars and wineries will have to close for the time being.
• Gyms cannot operate indoors, though exercise can be moved outside.
• Car washes, landscaping businesses, auto shops, pet grooming, laundromats, and other “limited services” will need to close, too.
• Retail stores will be limited to no more than 20% capacity. That’s a reduction from the 25% that has been allowed.
• Churches and places of worship are permitted but only outdoors and with social distancing guidelines practiced.

For more details on the latest stay-at-home order, here are the California Department of Health’s guidelines.

Tulare County Superior Court changes

Tulare County Superior Court announced Sunday night that it was taking “immediate precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of the court staff, bench officers and general public” amid the new stay-at-home orders.

• All traffic and small claims calendars will be suspended. Any matters currently scheduled will be continued and parties will be notified by mail of the new date;
• All criminal and civil trials will be suspended through December;
• All service counters will remain closed to the public, except by appointment only. Drop-box options are available to facilitate regular court transactions. Payments will be accepted online, by telephone or drop box;
• Access to the courthouse facilities will be limited to people who have matters on calendar and are not represented by counsel. Represented parties will appear through their attorney of record, except in those matters requiring personal appearance;
• Attorneys and litigants are strongly encouraged to make court appearances telephonically;
• Attorneys and litigants are strongly encouraged to file documents through e-filing;
• “Walk in”” appearances will be suspended. Requests to address matters that require immediate attention may be mailed to the court or placed in the drop box and will be addressed remotely, when possible;
• People with an active warrant should call the court at 559-730-5000, option 2 for north county cases (Visalia), and 559-782-3700, option 1 for south county cases (Porterville), for further direction;

The court’s Self-Help Resource Center will remain closed for walk-in appointments, and all in-person Self-Help clinics are suspended.

People can call 559-737-5500 for assistance and visit the court’s website tularesuperiorcourt.ca.gov for updated information.

This story was originally published December 6, 2020 at 10:31 AM.