Fresno County adds 22 deaths from coronavirus. Officials concerned about Labor Day
Fresno County reported 22 new deaths in its twice-weekly coronavirus update, bringing the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 312, according to numbers from county health officials.
The state reported 193 new cases of COVID-19 in Fresno County on Friday, which brings that total to 25,978.
Of that total, 12,572 patients have recovered.
Fresno County interim Health Officer Rais Vohra earlier this week pleaded with residents to avoid gatherings or parties during the long Labor Day weekend, saying they could lead to another spike in cases — and eventually deaths.
“Any nonessential gatherings should be canceled. I know that’s hard to hear,” he said on Tuesday. “Please be mindful about that. Labor Day is not a time to take a holiday from safety.”
Large social circles have proven to be a significant challenge in containing the spread of COVID-19, the highly contagious virus, and in tracking that spread via contact tracing.
For months, Gov. Gavin Newsom and health officers have repeatedly blamed surges in infections on gatherings among groups of friends and extended family members. Those sorts of get-togethers technically remain restricted under the stay-at-home order that’s been in effect since March 19. But in practice, enforcing a ban on backyard barbecues and private birthday parties is perhaps unlikely.
1 in 5 know someone killed by COVID-19
Each month since the first COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley in early March, the coronavirus pandemic has claimed a larger number of lives.
August was the deadliest month yet for the pandemic locally, with 152 deaths in Fresno County — more than the prior five months combined. There were 315 fatalities across Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare counties combined.
In about six months, the coronavirus pandemic has killed close to 13,500 Californians — about one in every 3,000 residents.
According to a recent poll released by the California Health Care Foundation and survey firm Ipsis, 19% of Californians — nearly one-in-five — personally knew someone who died of COVID-19. For Black and Latino populations, who have died at disproportionate rates from the respiratory disease, those figures jump to 28% and 29%, respectively.
Other Valley counties
Tulare County counted 125 new cases of the virus to reach 14,677 since the beginning of the pandemic. No new deaths left the total at 243.
Merced County tallied 75 new cases but no new deaths on Friday, a total of 8,277 and 120, respectively.
Mariposa County has recorded 74 positive cases and two deaths.
Kings County added 266 cases, which brings the total to 6,688. No new deaths changes the total from 76.
Madera County did not report on Friday.
The Sacramento Bee contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 4:54 PM.
