Coronavirus update: Fresno County adds another 1,000+ cases; protest closes grocery store
The coronavirus pandemic continues its surge across California, with more than 2.3 million cases and 26,000 deaths now being reported.
More than 45,000 new cases — and 181 deaths — were added Sunday, reflecting numbers through the second day of the New Year.
Fresno County added 1,256 new cases Sunday, bringing the total number of positive test results for COVID-19 to 68,740. The 14-day rolling average is 951 cases per day.
On Friday, the county reported 65 new deaths for a total of 711 since the pandemic began. Fatalities in the county typically are updated only once or twice a week.
Kings County, in its Sunday update, reported 203 additional cases for a total of 9,845 since the outbreak started. Deaths remained at 95.
Separate from the total among the population at large are caseloads in Kings County’s state prison facilities in Avenal and Corcoran. There, another 31 cases were added, bringing the total number of inmates who have been infected to 6,783, with 15 deaths.
Fresno Trader Joe’s closed after anti-mask protest
Police officers were called to Trader Joe’s off Friant Road on Saturday, where a group of people were protesting the grocery store chain’s mask requirement. The city and state also have mask ordinances..
The store closed early for the day as mask-less demonstrators blocked the store entrance and confronted store employees. There were no reports of arrests.
The East Bay Times reported a similar protest occurred at a farmer’s market in Santa Cruz.
Numbers around the San Joaquin Valley
The entirety of the San Joaquin Valley region remains under the regional stay-at-home order with 0% ICU availability at local hospitals. Fresno County has been averaging 634 hospitalized patients over the last two weeks. There were 10 open and staffed beds in the intensive care units as of Saturday.
According to state numbers updated on Friday, Madera County has seen 10,752 positive cases and 117 related deaths.
Tulare County has reported 33,994 cases and 406 deaths (33 more than last week). Merced County has seen 19,118 cases and 260 deaths. Mariposa County added 19 new cases Friday. It now has 236 new cases and four deaths.
This story was originally published January 3, 2021 at 9:43 AM.