Recoveries increase by more than 100
TCHHSA release guidelines for a safe Halloween
On Friday, the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency (TCHHSA) reported that there are 542 active COVID-19 cases in the county, a decrease of 41 active cases from Thursday’s report. The total number of positive cases recorded in the county is now at 16,399.
Of those 16,399 total cases, 68 cases are related to travel, 5,472 cases were contracted person to person, and 10,859 cases still have an undetermined origin.
The agency also reported that here have now been 15,592 recoveries in the county, an increase of 116 recoveries over Thursday’s report. Two new deaths occurred, increasing the total number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Tulare County to 265.
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tulare County increased to 39, and the agency noted a large jump in cases have come from skilled nursing facilities. On Thursday, the agency reported that skilled nursing facilities in Tulare County had 596 total cases, but of Friday that number increased by 76 cases, bring the total number of cases reported from skilled nursing facilities to 672.
On Friday, the agency reported that there have been 2,634 cases in the Porterville area, 163 cases in Terra Bella, 237 cases in Strathmore, 665 cases in Lindsay, 46 cases in foothill-mountain
communities, 140 cases in Richgrove, 28 cases in Alpaugh, 286 cases in Pixley, 90 cases in Tipton, 661 cases in Earlimart, 2,627 cases in Tulare, 1,817 cases in Dinuba, 325 cases in Exeter, 485 cases in Farmersville, 284 cases in Woodlake, 590 cases in Orosi, 333 cases in Cutler, 43 cases in Goshen, 81 cases in Traver, 14 cases in the Reedley area, 4 cases in Orange Cove, and 5 cases in the Corcoran area.
In Visalia there have been 2,048 cases in one region, 1,354 cases in another region and 1,130 cases in a third region.
There have been 2,311 cases ages 0-17, 2,614 cases ages 18-25, 4,727 cases ages 26-40, 5,087 cases ages 41-64, 1,650 cases ages 65 and older.
There have been 9,291 cases who have been Hispanic, 1,568 who have been Caucasian, 292 have been Asian, 71 have been African American, 49 have been Native American, 309 have been multi-race and 4,819 are unknown.
There are now 472 people in Tulare County who are under selfquarantine and being monitored by public health officials.
Residents urged to celebrate Halloween safely during pandemic
The COVID-19 virus continues to spread throughout Tulare County, and Public Health officials urge residents to take necessary precautions to protect themselves by participating in lowrisk activities and celebrations this Halloween. COVID-19 continues to pose a risk to the health of our communities and to our most vulnerable populations. Residents need to be aware of highrisk environments for spread of COVID-19 and should avoid such high- risk activities during the month of October.
Tulare County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught strongly encourages community members to follow the public health guidelines and recommendations for slowing the spread of COVID-19 by not gathering with others outside your immediate household.
“Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses, including COVID-19,” shared Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Health Officer. “There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween festivities while reducing the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in any in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.”
To reduce COVID-19 cases and deaths in Tulare County, officials urge residents to AVOID these highrisk activities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:
Halloween gatherings or parties with non-household members
Carnivals, festivals, and haunted house attractions are highrisk for spread of COVID-19
Attending crowded costume parties held indoors
Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming
Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgment and increase risky behaviors
Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door, because it is difficult to maintain proper social distancing on porches and at front doors
Trunk-or-treat events where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
Public Health officials urge residents to use alternative means when celebrating Halloween safely this year with these lower-risk activities:
Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
Having a scavenger hunt- style trick- ortreat search with your household members in or around your home rather than going from house to house
No-contact online or virtual pumpkin carving/costume contests
Car parades that comply with public health guidance for vehicle-based parades, including:
Drive-by events or contests where individuals dress up or decorate their vehicles and drive by “judges” who are appropriately physically distanced
Drive-through events where individuals remain in their vehicles and drive through an area with Halloween displays
Drive- in events where individuals can receive a treat bag (limited to commercially packaged, nonperishable treats) or take-away item from an organizer while the participants remain in their vehicles
The most important thing is to keep your loved ones safe and healthy and to not risk their health by gathering with those outside your own home. COVID-19 cases have been seen to spike in Tulare County following holiday gatherings, so to avoid a spike in cases, public health officials are urging residents to cooperate. Following the public health recommendations and reducing the amount of COVID-19 cases will help Tulare County meet the required thresholds for lifting restrictions on businesses and fully reopening local schools, allowing children to return to the classroom.
To reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Tulare County, officials strongly urge everyone to practice both social and physical distancing of six feet or more between persons and to refrain from social gatherings. Residents must always wear a face mask or covering while in environments where physical distancing is not possible and while in public settings. In addition, everyone is encouraged to frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer, regularly disinfect hightouch surfaces, and stay home if you are sick or instructed to isolate/quarantine by a medical or public health professional.
Closure of Visalia Child Welfare Services Office announced
The Human Services Branch of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency confirmed that one public employee at the Visalia Child Welfare Services Office, located at 6520 South Mooney Boulevard in Visalia, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee began to show symptoms and notified a supervisor.
The County has instructed all employees during this time that they should not come to work if they show any symptoms of illness. The Agency has closed the location for cleaning and is notifying all members of its workforce with whom the infected employee may have had potential contact. The Agency had begun to limit the number of employees working at each of its sites in March, which has limited exposure to other County employees. Additionally, public access to this office has remained closed since March 23, 2020.
This is the second time the Visalia Child Welfare Services Office location has closed due to COVID-19. On August 19, the location fully closed because an employee tested positive. The office was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, allowing employees to return to work following proper protocols.
It is not unexpected that employees may become ill as COVID-19 continues spreading throughout the community. The HHSA has protocols in place to address this and similar situations involving employees who become ill. These protocols include: asking employees to stay home if they show any symptoms, reporting any symptoms that develop during working hours, asking nonessential employees to work from home, maintaining sufficient social distancing in the workplace, and consistently using excellent hygiene and cleaning practices.
With the office expected to be temporarily closed, those needing services through Child Welfare Services can call (559) 623-0500 and to report suspected child abuse, call 1-800-331-1585.
The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency is diligent about the protection of patient privacy, in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and for this reason we cannot release any other information about the affected employee. The information released about the positive COVID-19 cases in Tulare County is carefully curated to provide useful information to our community members, while also excluding information that would lead to the identification of affected persons. This is a protection, provided by law, that is extended to everyone.
For more information about COVID-19, visit www.tchhsa.org/ ncov and www.covid19. tularecounty.ca.gov
Tulare testing site moving to Tulare County Fairgrounds
The Optumserve community testing site in Tulare is moving from its location at the International AgriCenter to the Tulare County Fairgrounds. Officials strongly urge everyone to get tested for COVID-19; testing is free and available to anyone. Those exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, who have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus, or who believe they have been exposed to the virus are encouraged to make an appointment and get tested.
“In an effort to increase COVID-19 testing in our local communities, we encourage everyone to get tested for COVID-19,” stated Dr. Karen Haught, Tulare County Health Officer. “Having widespread testing of COVID-19 in Tulare County will improve surveillance and is beneficial to meeting required testing metrics in order to move Tulare County into less restrictive tiers for reopening schools and businesses.”
The community testing site in Tulare will move to the Tulare County Fairgrounds on October 5. Operated in partnership with Optumserve, the COVID-19 testing site will be located in Building One on the corner of Martin Luther King Avenue and K Street in Tulare. The testing site at the Tulare County Fairgrounds will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Appointments can be made by phone at 1-888-634-1123 and online at https://lhi.care/ covidtesting. Please note that phone registration will only be used for people without internet access and those making an appointment for minors. Public health officials encourage those going to get tested for COVID-19 to wear a face mask or facial covering for protection.
If an individual has medical insurance, Optumserve will bill the patient’s medical insurance company. Uninsured individuals may also use the community testing site, and their tests will be paid for by the state.
Those interested in getting tested for COVID-19 can visit www. covid19. tularecounty.ca.gov for a full list of test collection sites in the county and surrounding areas. The webpage also includes an interactive map for residents to find their nearest site location.