Coronavirus update: Death toll approaching 1,000; what vaccinations look like
As vaccinations continue in Fresno County, the number of COVID-19 cases passed 79,000 while the death toll rolls toward 1,000.
Fresno County on Friday reported 28 more fatal cases of the coronavirus to put total deaths at 932 since the pandemic spawned its first local infections in March, health officials reported.
In the latest update, for additional cases through Friday night, another 917 positive results put the county at 79,950 cases since the pandemic began.
Hospitalizations for COVID-related complications decreased by 43 as the overall count fell to 605 — a 6.6% decrease from the prior day — when including both confirmed and suspected coronavirus cases.
There were 90 confirmed or suspected COVID patients in ICUs around the county, compared to 109 a day earlier, with 27 ICU beds now available.
Through Saturday, state officials reported 2,900,246 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 32,960 deaths in California.
The seven-day positivity rate is 11.4% and the 14-day rate 12.6%.
Vaccine distributions
This week, Fresno County began distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines at a mass level, including one at the Fresno Fairgrounds.
Health care workers and anyone 75 and older are the first to receive the vaccinations.
Sierra Pacific Orthopedics near Millbrook Avenue and Spruce Way said it is offering about 1,500 vaccines a day to people who qualify under California’s tier system. The drive-up clinic does not require an appointment but patients are asked to fill out a form before showing up.
The state reported 1,068,874 vaccine doses on Thursday and the total doses is now at 3,099,425, which includes the first and second doses that have been shipped to local health departments and health care systems that have facilities in multiple counties.
Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County’s interim health officer, told The Bee on Thursday the county received about 47,000 doses of the two different vaccines that are available.
More than 30,000 doses have been distributed to hospitals and other facilities that are offering the shots.
Stay-at-home order
The San Joaquin Valley region remains under the regional stay-at-home order. At 0% availability, hospital ICUs in the region are below the 15% mark that would allow officials to consider re-opening many business sectors.
The Valley region, as it pertains to COVID-19 orders, refers, to Fresno, Merced, Stanislaus, Calaveras, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, San Benito, San Joaquin, Tulare and Tuolumne counties.
According to the state data, 14 ICU beds were available in Fresno County when data was pulled from Thursday.
Kings County death toll backlog, daily case record
Kings County added 23 more deaths in its most recent update — raising the total there to 133 — to account for fatalities that occurred from Dec. 5 through Jan. 6, “during which time the state was experiencing issues” with CalREDIE, the state’s disease registry system.
Another 415 daily cases pushed the total to 19,125, including positive results in the general populace as well as state prison facilities in Avenal and Corcoran.
There have been 12,126 cases in the general population, including a one-day record of 383 reported through Friday afternoon. The total in the prisons increased by 32 to 6,999. Of the deaths, all 23 in the backlog and 118 total are in the general population of the county.
“Although a rise in the number of new cases was anticipated due to the number of gatherings associated with the holiday season, this is the largest daily increase in Kings County since the beginning of the pandemic,” the county’s Department of Public Health stated in a news release Saturday afternoon.
“This sharp increase in new cases is a reminder how easily this virus is transmitted and how important it is to protect yourself and loved ones,” Edward Hill, the department’s director, was quoted in the release.
Other Valley counties
Tulare County doesn’t post new updates Saturdays, but on Friday, officials reported 453 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 40,176 cases. Seven new deaths brought that total to 501 since March.
Merced County added 293 cases on Friday to total 23,492 cases since the pandemic began. Six new deaths brings the total to 296.
Madera County did not report any new deaths on Friday but tallied 229 new cases, which makes for totals of 130 and 12,778, respectively.
Mariposa County reported no new cases and deaths Saturday morning to keep the total at 341 and the number of deaths at four.
This story was originally published January 16, 2021 at 10:33 AM.
