Fresno County reports first coronavirus death as it reaches 100 positive cases
Fresno County reported its first death from COVID-19, as positive cases reached 100 and coronavirus numbers grew across the central San Joaquin Valley.
The five-county area of Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Merced and Kings has seen a total of six deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the highly contagious virus, according to health officials.
Madera and Tulare each reported a new death Friday morning.
Fresno County tallied six new cases in its late Friday afternoon report for a total of 100.
The fatal case in Fresno County involved an elderly woman with multiple other health conditions, officials said.
The number of people who tested positive for the coronavirus in the central San Joaquin Valley climbed to 232 through Friday, which is an increase of 15 from the day before.
Sheriff says enforcement fines possible
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims released a video the same day to clear up rumors and implore people to stay home as much as possible.
She said deputies are able to enforce fines for people who are being reckless with their own health or the health of others, but said she hopes people will act voluntarily.
“Flagrant disrespect for public health and safety however will be dealt with, including the possibility of large fines,” she said.
To clarify rumors, she said the National Guard has been deployed to help at places like food banks but martial law has not been declared. No curfew is in order and no checkpoints have been set up, she said.
Fresno County also closed all of its public parks until further notice.
More deaths
The Madera County Department of Public Health confirmed the death of a woman in her 70s. The woman is believed to have contracted the virus through person-to-person contact. She had underlying health conditions, according to a news release.
Another Madera County resident, 67-year-old Jose Sanchez Barriga, died last week from the virus.
The death in Tulare County was its third reported by county health officials.
Tulare County health officials announced seven new cases of coronavirus Friday for a total of 81.
Madera did not report any new cases Friday.
Kings County has four cases of coronavirus, according to health officials, but no deaths. They previously reported five positive cases.
Another three cases were reported Friday in Merced County, bringing the total there to 19. Merced has not recorded any deaths.
State and nation
The coronavirus has now infected more than 1 million people worldwide, with more than 260,000 cases across the United States, according to data maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
In California, more than 11,000 have been infected and at least 242 have died of the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, according to a Sacramento Bee survey count of data released through Thursday.
Public meetings
The Fresno City Council announced Friday that meetings will be held through the Zoom conferencing software and the public will not be allowed in City Hall. Public comment can be made through the online Zoom meeting or in writing.
The next meeting is April 9 and the policy will be ongoing until further notice.
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors and Clovis City Council have adopted similar temporary policies.
Fresno Bee reporters Tim Sheehan and Joshua Tehee contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 4:43 PM.
