Fresno County adds 353 new cases of coronavirus. Here’s why the number may be higher
Fresno County reported another 353 cases of the coronavirus reported on Thursday. But the numbers may be higher as the state continues to have some electronic reporting problems, according to the state Department of Health.
That brings Fresno County’s total to 16,625 positive cases and 157 deaths. The fatal cases remained unchanged since Tuesday.
The central San Joaquin Valley passed 500 deaths related to the virus on Wednesday, the second-highest single day for deaths in the state.
Tracking problems continue
As health officials throughout California remain hampered by a major ongoing problem with the electronic system used to track COVID-19 case data, the technical issue is introducing significant delays to the contact tracing process.
It is also keeping local jurisdictions in the dark about the true coronavirus transmission rates occurring in their communities.
The computer problem, which is blocking case data from getting to both the state and individual counties, could also stall Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to let some elementary schools reopen via a waiver process that the state described in detail Monday.
Valley counties
Tulare County saw three deaths added to its total, which is now 196. Another 256 new cases pushed the total to 10,334.
Merced County reported two additional deaths on Thursday, when the total reached 62. Ninety-five new cases brought the total up to 4,855.
Madera County tallied 59 new cases to reach 2,267 since the start of the pandemic. No new deaths left the total at 36.
Mariposa County did not report any changes to its 59 cases and two deaths.
Kings County has not reported since Sunday.
More than 4.8 million people in the country have tested positive for COVID-19, including 524,000 Californians, according to The COVID Tracking Project and Johns Hopkins University CSSE.
Almost 200,000 people have died since the start of the pandemic. More than 9,700 are from California.
The Sacramento Bee contributed to this report.
