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After Arias Family COVID Diagnosis, City Staff Getting Tested
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
June 30, 2020

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COVID-19 testing is now available to City Hall staff after Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias announced that he is going into quarantine because his 8-year old son contracted COVID-19.

“This weekend, my family became among the nearly 4,500 Fresno County residents to be diagnosed with COVID-19. We have followed Fresno County Public Health Department guidance, notified affected parties, and are all receiving the necessary medical attention.” — Fresno City Council President Miguel Arias

Arias presided over the city council meeting last Thursday, held in-person at council chambers. It was the first time the council held a meeting there since shutting down March 25 and taking meetings online.

“This weekend, my family became among the nearly 4,500 Fresno County residents to be diagnosed with COVID-19. We have followed Fresno County Public Health Department guidance, notified affected parties, and are all receiving the necessary medical attention,” Arias wrote on Facebook.

“Like the many other affected families in our county, we remain positive and confident we will recover soon. Once again, I ask that everyone take all necessary precautions, including wearing a mask because the lives of our loved ones depend on it,” Arias wrote.

The council returned to Zoom meetings with today’s budget meeting. Additionally, council staff will once again work remotely after previously returning to City Hall.

Several members of the community wished Arias and his son well during the public comment period today.

Karbassi Staying at Hotel to Protect Father

Councilman Mike Karbassi said he is staying at a hotel to avoid contact with his 78-year-old father.

“I can’t risk (my father’s health). It’s frustrating because he relies on me for a lot of things and because of COVID-19, he stays at home, he’s sheltering in place. So now, I’m having to scramble to get friends and family to help him out at the same time.” — Fresno City Councilman Mike Karbassi

Karbassi sat next to Arias last week on the dais. The chamber was retrofitted for social distancing, including clear plastic dividers between council members and in front, as well.

“I can’t risk his health. It’s frustrating because he relies on me for a lot of things and because of COVID-19, he stays at home, he’s sheltering in place. So now, I’m having to scramble to get friends and family to help him out at the same time,” Karbassi said.

Karbassi said he wants to wait a few days before getting tested himself.

“You can’t rely solely on masks,” Karbassi said, advocating for social distancing practices. “If you are feeling sick, stay home. You can’t rely on just one measure.”

Self-Screening Procedures in Place

City Manager Wilma Quan set forth an emergency order outlining the social distancing plan for council chambers that went into effect at 8 a.m., an hour before last Thursday’s council meeting.

“All personnel will be required to self-screen before entering the workplace and all members of the public will be screened on entry,” Quan’s order said.

The screening included non-contact temperature checks for the public.

“If the public member answers ‘no’ to all questions and does not have an elevated temperature, and is wearing a facial covering, the member will be then processed by security screening,” the order said.

When this reporter attended the meeting last week, the only check made was for a mask.

If Positive, Arias Must Self-Isolate

The city’s order mandates that if Arias himself contracts COVID-19, he must isolate for 14 days, which he said he is already doing.

“If a Councilmember is tested and confirmed as having COVID-19 within three days following a Council meeting in Council Chambers and was present during the meeting, their time on the dais will be assessed through video recording to determine who was within six feet of them for more than 15 minutes,” the order said.

The order also calls for those sitting next to a member with a positive case to isolate for two weeks as well.

As council president, Arias sat in the center, with councilwoman Esmeralda Soria to his right and Karbassi to his left. Of the three, only Soria wore a mask throughout the meeting.

The chamber underwent full disinfection over the weekend.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 16.

[covid-19-tracker]

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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

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