Fresno coronavirus updates: Impacts felt on schools, restaurants and the Catholic Diocese

Over the past week, the coronavirus has continued to spread.

On Saturday, health officials in Fresno County said they plan to declare a local emergency after a second patient tested positive for COVID-19. A second patient tested positive for COVID-19 in Tulare County, health officials there said on Friday.

Caution over the spread of the virus is causing disruptions to daily life. That includes the massive postponement and/or cancellation of social gathering including concerts, community and town hall meetings and sporting events.

Here are the latest updates on what’s happening in the Fresno area following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that all gatherings of more than 250 people must be canceled to limit the spread of COVID-19 and a declaration of national emergency from President Donald Trump.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo

The Fresno Chaffee Zoo said in a Facebook post on Saturday evening that Fresno city officials requested it temporarily close.

All programs and events are postponed or canceled. City and Zoo leadership will reassess the temporary closure at the end of March.

City Manager Wilma Quan in a statement Sunday morning called the decision difficult but necessary to protect visitors and zoo staff.

“With an abundance of caution, we are doing everything we can to prevent the spread of the coronavirus so we can get back to enjoying the attractions and activities that make Fresno a great place to live,” she said in the statement.

Full refunds are available. Call 559-498-5910 with any questions.

Fresno area restaurants seeing fewer people

Some restaurants are reporting a drop in customers as coronavirus fears change the way people live their lives. Business was down 60% at Vino Grille & Spirits at Champlain Drive near Shepherd Avenue Wednesday night.

Restaurants have been ramping up their cleaning procedures, adding hand sanitizing stations and removing table for added safe space. Some food safety experts are saying its safe for people to eat out, though the CDC recommends those at higher risk for COVID-19 remain at home as much as possible.

Central Valley Schools

All of Fresno’s schools of higher education have ended in-person classes at least for a short time.

Students at Fresno State, Fresno Pacific University and Fresno City College were told to stay home and continue their classwork online.

Fresno City College scheduled training early next week so all of its educators would be prepared to teach classes online. Classes that need to students to be in the classroom, like job training, are still being conducted.

Essential campus services like the food pantry, financial aid office, health center and other student services are ongoing, according to Carole Goldsmith, the college president.

“At this time, we are delaying the beginning of the second nine-week short-term classes by one week,” she said. “The second nine-week short-term classes will begin March 23.”

Fresno Unified, the third-largest school district in California, will shut down classes starting next week through April 13 as officials scramble to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, Trustee Terry Slatic told The Bee.

Central Unified announced late Friday that their schools, too, will close beginning Monday through April 20.

Clovis schools will also close starting Monday. The announcing from the second-largest school district in the central San Joaquin Valley, came Friday evening after an emergency meeting of the school board.

Schools are planned to reopen April 14, officials said.

Fresno State is evaluating its near-term events and meetings on a case-by-case basis and relying on recommendations from the CSU Chancellor’s Office to determine any potential cancellation or postponement, according to a statement from Fresno State.

Already, Fresno State canceled the Peach Blossom Festival, which was scheduled to start on Thursday.

The university also has also canceled next week’s President’s Lecture Series, which was to feature “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan. The event had been scheduled for March 17 at the Save Mart Center.

The Mountain West Conference on Thursday suspended all of its spring sports competitions, following a number of other conferences and pro sports leagues.

“The Board has determined the most prudent course of action is to align with the recommendations of public health care and government officials to help limit the spread of the virus,” the conference said in a news release.

Mountain West teams on the road at the time of the suspension may complete those events and then return to campus, the conference said. Those teams that have not yet departed shall suspend travel immediately.

City urging use of online services

Officials at Fresno City Hall say they are asking for public events to be suspended if they aren’t essential.

Officials have spoken to the operators of city-owned venues like the Convention Center, Selland Arena, Saroyan Theater, Veterans Memorial Auditorium and Granite Park to reduce potential exposure in large public gatherings.

“We’re taking sensible and reasonable steps to keep our community safe and informed,” Mayor Lee Brand said.

Many public services can also be carried out online, without having to enter downtown’s City Hall. That includes applying for a business license, paying a utility bill, appealing a parking ticket and many others.

For the latest on event status or to do business online, call 3-1-1 or visit www.fresno.gov.

Cancellations at Save Mart Center, Fresno Convention Center and Saroyan Theatre

At that same time, cancellation and/or postponement announcements continue to come in from the area’s major arenas and theater.

At the Save Mart Center that includes concerts from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ana Gabriel, Brantley Gilbert, Baby Shark Live, Nick Cannon Wild N Out Live and an Evening with Michael Buble. Saroyan Theatre has canceled Friday night’s Il Volo performance, the The Fabulously Funny Comedy Festival, the San Joaquin Valley Town Hall Lecture with Jane Pauley and Fresno Philharmonic’s April performance.

Visitation suspended at Fresno, Tulare county jails

All in-person and video conferencing visits at Fresno County jail sites were suspended on Friday. The decision was made at the recommendation of the Board of State and Community Corrections and follows v a similar decision Thursday afternoon in Tulare County by Sheriff Mike Boudreaux.

There is no timetable for when the restrictions at Fresno County jail might be lifted.

Catholic Churches

The Catholic Diocese of Fresno announced that all events at their churches in the region will be canceled for two weeks beginning on Monday. Dozens of churches make up the diocese.

Caltrans puts up highway messaging

Caltrans launched a statewide educational campaign on Saturday, in response to the state’s declared emergency about the coronavirus (COVID-19). More than 700 electronic highway signs across the state’s freeways and highways will display the messaging on a rotational basis when there are no critical emergency, traffic safety messages or Amber Alerts, officials say.

This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 1:30 PM.