Fresno residents should scale back July 4th social gathering plans. COVID-19 is why

As the Fourth of July holiday arrives, the temptation will be to have friends over to feast on backyard barbecue and then set off fireworks once the sun goes down.

This year, resist that urge for that kind of gathering. COVID-19 is the reason.

Public health experts say social gatherings are one of the surefire ways to spread the highly contagious respiratory illness. California just got new evidence of that on Sunday, when Gov. Gavin Newsom made the decision to close bars in seven counties, including Fresno, Kings and Tulare, because those areas are seeing increases in the number of infections. Bars, it turns out, are places where it is particularly challenging to keep patrons apart — especially after they’ve consumed several alcoholic drinks.

In Fresno County, the number of cases and of deaths have tripled in the month since the city’s shelter-in-place order was lifted. As of Saturday, Fresno County had 4,474 cases — the most in the central San Joaquin Valley. Through Thursday, Fresno County had 71 deaths.

It gets personal

Don’t believe it can happen to you? Fresno City Council president Miguel Arias just had COVID-19 hit home. On Monday he announced that his 8-year-old son Diego had tested positive for the coronavirus after complaining of having a fever, body aches and headache.

Arias has not yet shown symptoms of the virus, but he is suffering in other ways — namely guilt and angst.

“It’s one of those things where your immediate reaction is of guilt and anger that you might have infected an 8-year-old who has been home and has done nothing but watch Netflix all day,” he told Bee staff writer Brianna Calix. “It makes me wonder what public events we could have not attended and what meetings we could have canceled.”

Now Arias has to remain quarantined, and son Diego has to be isolated by himself for up to 14 days.

City Hall had to be deep cleaned over the weekend, and City Council meetings in the short-term will have to be held online rather than in person.

Arias’ takeaway: “I think it’s important for the general public to understand that COVID is not just impacting front-line workers and the elderly in nursing homes. It’s impacting all of us.”

Different holiday this time

COVID-19 had already guaranteed that this July 4th will be different.

Clovis’ 40th annual Freedom Fest was canceled earlier this month when organizers recognized they could not ensure the state-required social distancing of the crowds that would gather for the fireworks show and other events. Projected economic impact loss: $1 million.

Another tradition popular with Valley residents is 4th of July in Cayucos. From the parade to sand castle building to the fireworks show, all of the events were canceled due to the pandemic.

Even some of the toughest people on the planet — the endurance athletes who run from Badwater in Death Valley to the flank of Mount Whitney near Lone Pine — won’t get to compete this coming week in the Badwater 135. The risk of getting COVID-19 outweighed the threat of running when temperatures are well over 110 degrees.

There are nearly 4,000 confirmed cases in Fresno County, which has a population of more than 1 million, and that may give the sense that contracting COVID-19 is remote. Try telling that to Arias.

The 4th of July can absolutely be celebrated on Saturday. It just needs to be scaled back. Fly the American flag, host immediate family to barbecue, and keep it small and mellow. That way, safety can be maintained. While at it, consider not lighting fireworks this time; that will help reduce air pollution.