Coronavirus update: Fresno County at 14 deaths a day as positivity rate continues to drop
The positivity rate for COVID-19 in Fresno County continued to drop for the week, even as the county is averaging more than a dozen deaths each day related to coronavirus pandemic.
The county reported 387 new positive cases on Saturday and another 431 on Sunday. It has now counted 90,944 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. Of those, 1,224 have died from complications of the infection, according to data from the state department of public health.
There were 87 deaths reported in the first week of February. As of Thursday, the county was averaging 14.6 deaths per day over the past two weeks, the California Department of Public Health reported.
Meanwhile, the positivity rate — the percentage of all tests in the county that come back positive — is showing signs of progress. It dropped by 4% from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, when Fresno County was at 11.4%. It peaked at nearly 20% in January.
The county must be below 8% to move out of the purple tier, where the threat of coronavirus is considered “widespread.”
Numbers across the state and nation
On Sunday, California had reported 3,408,241 cases of COVID-19, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
The state leads the nation in coronavirus cases and is second in the number of deaths with 43,991. New York has reported 44,743 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins.
State issues new church guidelines
Following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Friday favoring a partial reopening, the state issued new guidelines for indoor church services.
Under California’s tiered protocols, indoor services had been prohibited in regions of the state in the purple tier, where the coronavirus is designated as “widespread.”
The new rules allows for indoor services in all counties, but with modifications.
For the purple and red tiers, indoor activities are allowed, but must be limited to 25% of capacity. Counties in the orange and yellow tiers can have indoor services at 50% capacity. These guidelines apply to churches, mosques, synagogues and temples as well as cultural ceremonies such as weddings and funerals, according to the state.
Food and resources distribution program extended
Fresno City Councilmen Mike Karbassi and Luis Chavez announced the extension of their food distribution program.
Pardini’s Catering & Banquets will continue providing a week’s worth of fresh groceries from all five food groups to seniors that sign up for the program.
Distribution begins 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, and will include three sites.
Seniors can sign up for a distribution date and time online at FresnoCOVIDhelp.com/SAFR or by calling 559-621-SAFR. Signups begin on Monday for slots from 8 a.m. to noon at:
- Logan Park, 5450 N. Santa Fe. Ave., on Wednesday
- Vinland Park, 4695 E. Gettysburg Ave. on Thursday
- Al Radka Park, 5897 E Belmont Ave. on Fridays
Statistics from around the Valley
Kings County reported an increase of 27 cases Sunday for a total of 21,246, including 7,170 at state-operated correctional facilities in the area.
The county also added two new deaths due to complications of COVID-19, bringing the total in the county to 194. Seventeen of the deaths have been among the state prison inmates.
Here are the most recent updates from the central San Joaquin Valley from the CDPH.
Madera County
- 55 new cases; 14,807 total
- 14-day average 67.8
- 0 new deaths; 184 total
Mariposa County
- 3 new cases; 355 total
- 14-day average 2.3
- 0 new deaths; 5 total
Merced County
- 121 new cases; 26,881 total
- 14-day average 149.6
- 0 new deaths; 362 total
Tulare County
- 211 new cases; 45,349 total
- 14-day average 192
- 0 new deaths; 645 total
This story was originally published February 7, 2021 at 10:29 AM.