The Fresno County Public Health Department reported two more deaths Friday attributed to COVID-19.
In a teleconference with reporters, the county said it has 191 cases, 36 of those travel-related, and 69 from community spread.
The two deaths were both described as “elderly gentleman” by the county health department. That brings the total number of deaths in Fresno County to five from COVID-19.
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Still in Surge Planning Mode

Fresno County continues to prepare for a possible surge of COVID-19 patients.
The Fresno Convention Center now houses a 250-bed field hospital site to help alleviate the strain on local hospitals — if it’s needed.
The county hosted the teleconference for reporters from the convention center, which has yet to receive patients.

No Antibody Tests in Fresno County

A large team of Stanford Medicine scientists have developed a test to detect antibodies against the novel coronavirus the university said in a release Friday afternoon. The test looks for antibodies to the virus in plasma, the liquid in blood, to provide information about a person’s immune response to an infection.
GV Wire asked interim Fresno County Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra if any of these new tests are coming here.
“We are not currently using the antibody test. We know that that’s going to be an important component of the recovery, just to detect people who have already had the virus and are now recovered.” Vohra said.  “We’re still waiting for state guidance to figure out exactly how the antibody testing will be unrolled and available to patients.”

Antibody Testing in Other California Counties

KABC-TV in Los Angeles reports that COVID-19 antibody testing is being conducted at six drive-thru sites in Los Angeles County on Friday and Saturday.
Pre-selected participants, who were selected based on a random sample, will be checked for immunity against the virus. The county announced Thursday the pilot test program will involve 1,000 adults who will be tested every two weeks to track the virus.
At Stanford University, researchers have begun testing more than 3,000 people.