Fresno leaders aim to slow coronavirus spread, make right call on ‘shelter in place’ order
It was, in the words of Fresno Mayor Lee Brand, “the most difficult decision we’ve ever made.” He was speaking for himself, the City Council and City Manager Wilma Quan after she issued a “shelter in place” order for residents Wednesday that the council then ratified.
The step was taken in light of the coronavirus pandemic and its developing presence in the central San Joaquin Valley.
“In the end this is really a life-and-death situation,” Brand said in an afternoon press conference, the weight of the moment clearly upon him and the other leaders.
Necessary step
The order asks for voluntary compliance. That is the right step, as it leaves the city maneuvering room should a mandatory order become necessary. For now, residents are being asked to stay home except for trips to get groceries, go to medical appointments, care for others or pets or go to work.
The decision, coming two days after Brand issued a citywide state of emergency, shows how fast the pandemic is affecting local life. Although only two Fresno County residents have tested positive for the virus as of Wednesday, health experts say it is a near certainty many more are infected and just don’t know it yet. Those people, unfortunately, could be spreading the disease.
Of particular concern are people over the age of 60, who have been most prone to the virus and its effect on the respiratory system.
California has had nearly 600 cases of the COVID-19 virus as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Times. Seventeen deaths have occurred. In the central San Joaquin Valley, five cases have occurred in Tulare County, three in Fresno County and one in Madera County.
Business impact
The city also announced businesses it deems nonessential should close. Examples of such businesses are salons, barber shops and day spas; auto sales; clubs and gyms; and clothing and book retailers. The day before the city, along with Clovis, directed that bars, pubs and restaurants be closed except for takeout and delivery orders.
That brought a reaction from Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, who said he was concerned with how small business owners would make out.
A day earlier Fresno County Supervisor Steve Brandau expressed frustration with what he called an “overreaction” by local leaders to the pandemic because of how the economy would be harmed.
But as Brand and the full council decision showed, the economy has to take a back seat to the public health crisis.
Clovis nonaction
Bredefeld also wanted better coordination with neighboring cities like Clovis. There, the City Council decided to hold off any shelter-in-place order. Mayor Drew Bessinger said Clovis was taking its lead from county public health officials, and noted that no cases of community transmission had yet been reported in Fresno County.
Given the speed of infection the state and nation has experienced over the last week, however, the inaction by Clovis leaders may prove to be an error in judgment. Here’s hoping that is not the case.
On Monday, Brand did not issue an order to shelter in place. By Wednesday, the city made that call. What changed? The realization by Fresno leaders that they needed to try to slow the rate of infection, or “flatten the curve,” so as not to overwhelm the local health care system.
That’s called leadership at a time of crisis.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 5:21 PM.