Coronavirus: Fresno mayor extends shelter-in-place order for two more weeks
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand announced Thursday he has extended the city’s shelter-in-place order for another two weeks.
Originally set to end on March 31, the extension asks Fresno’s roughly 500,000 residents to stay home and only leave for essential trips through April 12.
The order is meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, also called COVID-19. The virus has killed more than 1,000 people nationally.
“We’re trying to flatten the curve and not let the coronavirus devastate our community like it’s done around the world,” Brand said. “I’m proud to say that everything I’ve seen and heard tells me that almost everyone in Fresno is taking this seriously.”
Brand said he and his team will continue to monitor the virus to determine if the shelter-in-place order needs to be extended further or could end sooner than April 12, which is Easter.
Many churches have suspended gatherings during the pandemic.
Along with staying home, residents are asked to practice social distancing as well as to wash their hands thoroughly and often. The city has not implemented a curfew.
The city has deemed some businesses and services as essential, like grocery stores and law enforcement. Those services and businesses have continued to operate.
The mayor made the announcement from his north Fresno home on Thursday. At 70, Brand is in the age range of workers who state health officials say should work at home during the pandemic.
“The more we do now to flatten the curve, the better we’re going to do down the road, the shorter duration this event’s going to have on people’s lives,” Brand said.
As of Thursday afternoon, county health officials in the central San Joaquin Valley reported that a total of 48 people are confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus.
The figure includes six new cases reported on Wednesday and Thursday: three in Tulare County, bringing the total there to 20 cases; one in Merced County, which now has two confirmed positive tests to date; one in Madera County, which makes for seven cases there; and one in Fresno County, where the number of confirmed positive tests has grown to 19.
Kings County has yet to report any positive test results.
By Wednesday afternoon, county health departments across California collectively reported more than 2,950 coronavirus cases and attributed 65 deaths to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.
Sporting goods stores can re-open
The city of Fresno updated its list of businesses allowed to operate during the novel coronavirus. The most recent addition was sporting goods stores.
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld has been outspoken about allowing people to return to work as long as they practice Centers for Disease Control recommendations to protect themselves. He praised the decision related to sporting goods.
“We’re also thrilled that many of our citizens will be able to return to work,” he said on Wednesday. “We encourage businesses to utilize the CDC guidelines in order to keep their customers and staff safe.”
The Fresno City Council set up a small business relief fund Wednesday in its latest move to help those that have closed down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The council also passed protections for businesses that rent space or people who rent housing. Landlords are prevented from charging late fees or interest on business owners or residents who are late on their rent because of coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 26, 2020 at 11:20 AM.
