The majority of the 25 Coronavirus deaths in Tulare County are due to an outbreak at a Visalia nursing home. In fact, nearly half of the county’s 441 COVID-19 cases are nursing home related. Out of 174 COVID-19 cases, Redwood Springs Healthcare Center has seen at least 16 patient deaths. …
Read More »Woman At Risk Of Contracting COVID-19 Released From Bakersfield Detention Center
As state and local officials continue to stress the importance of social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, lawyers across California are joining forces to get their at-risk clients out of ICE detention centers, including the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility in Bakersfield. Sofia Bahena Ortuno, 64 years old, is one …
Read More »How Fresno State Transitioned to Virtual Education After COVID-19 Campus Closure
Nearly two weeks after the coronavirus forced Fresno State to transition to virtual instruction, FM 89’s Kathleen Schock spoke to Bryan Berrett, Fresno State’s director of the Center for Faculty Excellence, about how students and faculty are adapting. https://www.kvpr.org/sites/kvpr/files/styles/big_story/public/202004/bryan_berrett.jpg
Read More »Latino USA Host Maria Hinojosa Talks About Her Upcoming Memoir and Covering COVID-19
As the host of the popular NPR show Latino USA and founder of the non-profit Futuro Media Group, Maria Hinojosa shines a light on the experience of the Latinx community in America. And with the release of her memoir in September, Hinojosa will soon be sharing some more personal stories …
Read More »California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis on the State’s Response to COVID-19
With recent data indicating that the COVID-19 curve is flattening in some parts of California, FM89’s Kathleen Schock spoke to the state’s Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis about the planning process to reopen the economy and efforts to increase testing capacity. https://www.kvpr.org/sites/kvpr/files/styles/big_story/public/202004/Eleni-Kounalakis-win.jpg
Read More »Fresno County Partners With Fresno State To Analyze COVID-19 Tests
The Fresno County Public Health lab was damaged in a flood back in 2019, so the county was sending its potential COVID-19 specimen to Tulare County’s Public Health Lab for analysis. But a partnership with Fresno State now means Fresno County will be able to process tests locally. Standing outside …
Read More »People Detained At Bakersfield Detention Center Go On Hunger Strike Over COVID-19 Concerns
Over one hundred people detained at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center in Bakersfield are on an indefinite hunger strike, according to Susan Beaty, a fellow with Centro Legal de la Raza in Oakland. Those detained are demanding access to masks, soap and other protective items. The strike started at …
Read More »Kern County Sheriff’s Staff And Inmates Test Positive For COVID-19
Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood announced on Tuesday a dozen cases of COVID-19 among staff and inmates in the county jail. That’s why the county is now releasing some inmates without bail. Sheriff Youngblood announced on F acebook the judicial council is requiring the release of some inmates with low …
Read More »Fresno Fairgrounds To Be Site Of Makeshift Hospital For COVID-19 Patients
The Fresno Fairgrounds will soon be the site of a makeshift hospital set up to treat potential COVID-19 patients whose cases are less severe. The effort is to take pressure off of local hospitals. “We want to prepare for the potential of this virus just having a tremendous impact on …
Read More »Health Officials In The Valley Monitor At-Risk Individuals To Prevent Spread Of COVID-19
Only two COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the San Joaquin Valley: one each in Madera and Fresno counties. Both are related to travel on Princess Cruises. To prevent further spread, public health departments are monitoring at-risk folks daily. Not every county publishes the number of monitored individuals, but from …
Read More »How To Talk To Your Kids About COVID-19
With children home from school and concern about COVID-19 on the rise, how do parents protect the mental health of their children? According to Valley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Amanda Suplee, h onest communication, using age-appropriate language and building a strong routine in the home are some ways to …
Read More »COVID-19 Affects Farmworkers’ Livelihood in the San Joaquin Valley
The spread of COVID-19 is forcing many people to work from home, but for farmworkers that’s not an option. Take Eucebia and Alejandro; the couple asked to go by their first names only. They have three kids and no savings. In the past two weeks, they’ve been asked to leave …
Read More »Fresno County Declares A Local Emergency After Confirming Second COVID-19 Case
Fresno County confirmed a second case of COVID-19 Saturday evening. Both cases identified so far have been travel-related. In a press conference Sunday, a county health official said the department is also monitoring up to 70 individuals, to track symptoms. While the risk of community transmission is still low, the …
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