Coronavirus updates: Fresno County, Valley a COVID-19 hot spot; state plans strike teams
The coronavirus numbers in Fresno County continue an upward trend as officials have repeatedly urged the public to take better precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The figures reported by the California Department of Public Health on Monday saw nearly 700 new cases since Saturday to bring the county to a total number of 15,759 infections.
Through Monday, 138 people in Fresno County have died from issues related to COVID-19.
An action plan is now being developed from Fresno County officials and state level agencies wrestling with the rising infections. Gov. Gavin Newsom has expressed concern that the central San Joaquin Valley has become a hot spot.
Between Tuesday and Sunday last week, for example, Fresno County reported more than 2,420 new confirmed coronavirus infections and 18 deaths.
During the past two weeks, an average of nearly 300 confirmed COVID-19 patients have been treated as inpatients in Fresno County hospitals, up from an average of fewer than 100 at the beginning of July.
Tulare County update
Tulare County added four new deaths related to coronavirus and 245 new cases in its Tuesday morning report.
The county now totals 193 deaths and 9,990 cases since the pandemic began in March.
Valley COVID-19 spread leads to strike teams
Newsom last month announced the formation of three “strike teams” to respond to the continuing spread of COVID-19 in California’s Central Valley. Meetings Monday and Tuesday are the first step in developing an action plan for the region.
The strike teams, formally dubbed “unified response teams” by Newsom, are similar to the deployment this spring of groups from state agencies to Imperial County. That Southern California county saw a large surge of COVID-19 infections and deaths that overwhelmed local resources.
FUSD puts together a plan for distance learning
The Fresno Unified School District released an update on distance learning plans late Friday afternoon. The teachers union says educators and parents still need more specifics on protocols and procedures.
The district’s 19-page document, A Strategic Plan for Reopening Schools 2020-2021, provides some new information on daily instruction, services for students in special education classes and English learners.
However, some things haven’t been finalized, like which campuses students can pick up breakfast and lunch. Parents and students will be notified before the Aug. 17 start date, the plan said.
Trials resume amid coronavirus
On the opening day of the murder trial of accused killer Hileberto Valtierra, his ex-girlfriend testified Monday that she saw her former boyfriend shoot her 16-year-old son three times until he collapsed and died.
Valtierra, 37, is on trial for allegedly killing Angel Trejo on Dec. 9 at an apartment complex in the western Fresno County city of San Joaquin.
Monday’s trial is the first murder case in Fresno County Superior Court to use COVID-19 precautions throughout the entire process, from jury selection to the trial. Jurors are socially distanced and everyone in the courtroom is using a face mask.
Candy Cane Lane in Visalia canceled
The board of Downtown Visalians has canceled all of its events for the rest of the year, including the 75th Candy Cane Lane Parade, the Visalia Times Delta reported on Monday.
Safety concerns related to the coronavirus led to the decision.
Candy Cane Lane Parade is one of the largest events in Visalia and is considered downtown’s kick-off to the holiday shopping season.
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 8:06 AM.
