Last week, Fresno County businesses celebrated that the county had advanced into the red, less restrictive tier of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan. Then, this past Tuesday, they learned that they may be forced to close back up again, as early as next week, if the county’s case rate doesn’t improve. A Kern County administrator warned the same could happen to its residents if they let their guard down too soon.
How can this whiplash happen, and what’s the reopening status of the other counties in our region? In this COVID-19 update, we explain the basics of the tiered reopening plan known as theBlueprint for a Safer Economy, featuring excerpts from media calls with Fresno County Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra and Kern County Administrative Officer Ryan Alsop.
Here’s a snapshot for Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties (note that some numbers may have changed between the interview and publication):
As of Oct. 8:
- 1,366 deaths out of 100,419 cases
- 281 people hospitalized and 45 in ICUs
- In the last week, 36 people succumbed to the disease
- Average cases reported daily in the last week: 288
For comparison, as of Oct. 1:
- 1,330 deaths out of 98,402 cases
- 269 people hospitalized and 52 in ICUs
- In the last week, 44 people succumbed to the disease
- Average cases reported daily in the last week: 283
You can always find up-to-date information for your county here.
