Coronavirus update: Fresno cases threaten hospitals; Valley cities defy COVID-19 orders
Eight new fatal cases reported Tuesday brought Fresno County’s total to 120 deaths since the coronavirus came to the region in March.
The county now sits at 13,336 positive cases of COVID-19 as hospitals are at capacity and face staffing and supply shortages.
Tulare County’s Wednesday morning report included 214 new cases, which brings the total to 9,076. The deaths remained at 173.
Much of the central San Joaquin Valley is in the same boat. The six-county region has tallied 31,889 cases and 397 deaths.
In July, 47 people have died due to complications from the coronavirus.
During the past two weeks, Fresno County has seen an average of about 352 new cases of COVID-19 each day. That’s the highest daily average the county has suffered to date, and it’s up from a 14-day daily average of 263 cases as of July 14.
Hospitals — already at capacity — could overflow
Fresno County’s top doctor said Tuesday he fears the rise in daily cases will drive future hospitalizations and fatalities in the coming days and weeks.
On Friday, Fresno hospitals were treating 311 confirmed coronavirus patients, according to data from the California Department of Health Services. As of Monday, that was down to 297 patients, including 51 in intensive-care units.
Between coronavirus patients and an abundance of other patients requiring hospital attention for injuries and ailments such as trauma, heart attacks and others, hospitals across Fresno County remain at or beyond their standard capacities.
Worker says infected employees expected to work at meat plant
A meat-packing plant worker filed a class action complaint with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on July 22, saying employees have been “encouraged” to continue to work despite being sick with the coronavirus.
A judge still has to approve the lawsuit’s group status, but Alreen Haeggquist, the attorney overseeing the case, said she hopes to represent all Central Valley Meat Company workers.
On May 13, The Fresno Bee reported the plant had 183 cases of COVID-19. The company spokesperson declined to disclose the latest number of infections, and the Kings County Health Department did not respond with the latest case count.
According to the lawsuit, Central Valley Meat Company is the seventh-largest beef packer and processing company in the United States. The company employs more than 900 people, 750 of whom work in the Hanford plant, and processes more than 1,500 cattle a day.
Valley cities defy state orders over COVID-19
The Coalinga City Council re-affirmed all businesses are essential during the coronavirus pandemic, defying state orders and putting the city at risk of losing federal relief money.
The city was notified by the state’s Office of Emergency Services last week the first $36,000 of $216,000 from the CARES Act would be withheld by the state until the city rescinded the resolution and complied with public health orders.
The city of Atwater received a similar letter after it declared itself a sanctuary city for businesses. The Atwater City Council has also dug in, flouting the state order and as much as $389,000 in relief money.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 8:17 AM.
