Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

53 minutes ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

20 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

21 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

21 hours ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

22 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

1 day ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

1 day ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

1 day ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

1 day ago
Fresno Shelter-in-Place Order Extended to April 12
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
March 26, 2020

Share

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand announced the extension of the city’s shelter-in-place order through April 12 during a news conference Thursday morning at his northeast Fresno home.
“All indications are we have yet to see the worst of this pandemic. I know how difficult this is for everyone,” Brand said. “My wife, Tricia, and I have changed our lifestyle because it’s the right thing to do. The better job that we do now and contain the spread of the coronavirus, the faster we can recover and the faster we can return to our normal lives.”
Brand said he held the news conference at home because he wanted to lead by example for other seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brand is 70 years old.
The mayor did leave open the possibility that the order could be shortened.
“If something changes nationally or locally, we can change too,” Brand said.

Shelter Order Working, Doesn’t Foresee Police Enforcement

“If something changes nationally or locally, we can change too.”Mayor Lee Brand
The order was set to expire on March 31.
Brand said extending the order was to “protect the lives of as many people as possible.” He said the order has worked thus far in “flattening the curve.”
“I’m proud to say that everything I’ve seen and heard tells me that almost everyone in Fresno is taking this seriously and taking the necessary precautions to protect their own health, helped their family and friends and the health of our entire community,” Brand said.
Brand doubted he would need law enforcement to implement shelter-in-place.
“We don’t have the resources to enforce it at this point in time. But you can see by getting people to voluntarily do the stay at home, it won’t have to reach such drastic measures as some … in Europe right now, where they really have been locking people down. We don’t want to have that,” Brand said. “We want to have people comply. We want to have people live normal lives as soon as possible, have the least disruption as we can.”
Mayor Lee Brand, with his Communications Director Mark Standriff, address the media at his home in northeast Fresno (GV Wire/David Taub)

Order Through Easter

The extended order ends at 11:59 p.m. on April 12, which is Easter Sunday.
Brand talked about the potential impact on churchgoers.
“(Church) communication is up, not sideways. They’ve taken technology to preach to their members and keep in touch. Most churches are doing voluntary community work and this is based on the best available knowledge we have now,” Brand said.

Federal Aid Coming

As Congress is voting on its $2.2 trillion aid package responding to the crisis, Brand expects some of the money to come to Fresno.
While there is nothing specific, Brand said the money will go to cities with a population of 500,000, qualifying Fresno.
“We’re not certain exactly how it’s going to come down. At least three or four times a week, we have evening phone conferences with the big city mayors in California. So I get to learn what best practices are in other cities and other cities are having basically the same experience we’re having,” Brand said.
Brand is expecting a surge of cases and believes there is enough medical staffing and equipment locally “to meet that challenge.”

City Government in the COVID-19 Era

The city placed a voluntary shelter-at-home order that started March 19. Later that day, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered shelter-in-place mandatory statewide. However, travel to and from essential needs — such as grocery shopping and health care providers— is still allowed.
Since Brand declared a state of emergency for Fresno, the city has asked for businesses deemed non-essential to close. These include bars, dine-in portions of restaurants, and entertainment venues such as movie theaters and stadiums.
The city also effectively closed City Hall to the public, open only for attendance at government meetings. Most business is encouraged to be transacted online. Physical drop boxes to pay bills are available at the entrance to the building.
While city parks and playgrounds remain open, the parking lots are closed to stem access. The city acted on reports of overcrowded parks last weekend where social distancing was not practiced.
The Fresno City Council approved emergency measures for a moratorium on evictions because of COVID-19 financial hardships, anti-price gouging measures, and 0% interest loans to small businesses affected by the pandemic.
The council has held five special meetings since Brand’s emergency declaration on March 16 in addition to its regularly scheduled meeting March 19. Nearly every other commission or committee of Fresno’s government has been canceled.

Read the New Shelter-in-Place Order

[tnc-pdf-viewer-iframe file=”https://gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EMERGENCY-ORDER-2020-08_SHELTER-IN-PLACE-EXTENSION-3.26.20.docx.pdf” width=”800″ height=”700″ download=”true” print=”true” fullscreen=”true” share=”true” zoom=”true” open=”true” pagenav=”true” logo=”true” find=”true” current_view=”true” rotate=”true” handtool=”true” doc_prop=”true” toggle_menu=”true” language=”en-US” page=”” default_zoom=”auto” pagemode=””]

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

DON'T MISS

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

DON'T MISS

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

DON'T MISS

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

DON'T MISS

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

DON'T MISS

Russia Pounds Kyiv With Largest Drone Attack, Hours After Trump-Putin Call

DON'T MISS

Boxer Chavez Jr Expected to Be Deported to Mexico to Serve Sentence, Mexican President Says

DON'T MISS

Markets’ 90-Day Tariff Pause Rollercoaster Nears an Uncertain End

UP NEXT

After Record Democratic Speech, House Republicans Begin Final Vote on Trump Tax-Cut Bill

UP NEXT

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

UP NEXT

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

UP NEXT

Wired Wednesday: Why Is State Lawmaker Taking Aim at Rooftop Solar?

UP NEXT

Poorest Americans Dealt Biggest Blow Under Senate Republican Tax Package

UP NEXT

Check Out Newest Downtown Mural. It’s a Spectacular Tribute to Fresno Artisans

UP NEXT

Bryan Kohberger to Plead Guilty to Murders of Four Idaho Students

UP NEXT

Ukraine Voices Concern as US Halts Some Missile Shipments

UP NEXT

Poll: Most Americans Say National Divide, Political Violence Threaten Democracy

UP NEXT

Paramount Settles With Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Interview for $16 Million

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

52 minutes ago

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

53 minutes ago

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

59 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

1 hour ago

Russia Pounds Kyiv With Largest Drone Attack, Hours After Trump-Putin Call

1 hour ago

Boxer Chavez Jr Expected to Be Deported to Mexico to Serve Sentence, Mexican President Says

1 hour ago

Markets’ 90-Day Tariff Pause Rollercoaster Nears an Uncertain End

1 hour ago

Trump Says He’s Willing to Let Migrant Farm Laborers Stay in US

1 hour ago

Fresno Police to Conduct DUI Checkpoint on Fourth of July, Boost Holiday Patrols

3 hours ago

July 4th Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Founding Fathers

4 hours ago

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

GV Wire compiled a list of Fourth of July events in the greater Fresno area throughout the week. Many of them have already taken place. Here...

7 minutes ago

7 minutes ago

Clovis, Sanger, Madera, and Bass Lake Will Light the Sky With Fireworks Shows Tonight

A pumpjack operates at the Vermilion Energy site in Trigueres, France, June 14, 2024. (Reuters File)
36 minutes ago

Oil Dips Ahead of Expected OPEC+ Output Increase

Palestinians gather to collect what remains of relief supplies from the distribution center of the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, June 5, 2025. (Reuters File)
40 minutes ago

613 Killed at Gaza Aid Distribution Sites, Near Humanitarian Covoys, Says UN

Billy Wayne Sinisgalli, a 54-year-old transient known locally as Wayne, was found dead along a rural Fresno road Wednesday in what authorities are investigating as a suspicious death. (Fresno County SO)
53 minutes ago

Fresno County Authorities Investigating Suspicious Death of Transient Man

Israel Builds a Fence Around the West Bank
53 minutes ago

West Bank Town Becomes ‘Big Prison’ as Israel Fences It In

A view of the site of Thursday's Israeli strike that damaged and destroyed residential buildings, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City, July 4, 2025. (Reuters/Mahmoud Issa)
59 minutes ago

Israeli Military Kills 20 in Gaza as Trump Awaits Hamas Reply to Truce Proposal

Rachelle Maria Blanco is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for July 4, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
1 hour ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Rachelle Maria Blanco

An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 4, 2025. (Reuters/Gleb Garanich)
1 hour ago

Russia Pounds Kyiv With Largest Drone Attack, Hours After Trump-Putin Call

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend