Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
County Leader Says Closures Won't Be Enforced if Kings Falls Back in COVID Tiers
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 5 years ago on
November 12, 2020

Share

Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon is resigning himself to the likelihood his county will slip from ‘red’ into the state’s most restrictive ‘purple’ tier for reopening next week.

The county’s increasing COVID-19 cases per 100,000 is what’s putting it at risk. Even the Elections Department was temporarily closed due to a COVID-19 exposure.

“It’s very degrading to small businesses when corporate places like Costco and Target can stay open.”Kings County Supervisor Doug Verboon

The good news is the county is doing a significant amount of testing which the state in return gives them credit for. The latest example is the county should be at 10.2 cases per 100k, but with extra credit for extra testing, they are at 8.2.

But, to stay in its current red tier, Kings County numbers need to be below 7 new cases per 100,000 residents.

Verboon tells GV Wire℠ by phone, “Kings County policy is not to enforce restrictions on people that have businesses.”

Small Businesses Hurt Most

“It’s very degrading to small businesses when corporate places like Costco and Target can stay open,” says Verboon.

He estimates about 400 small businesses would be affected if the county drops back to purple. The most restrictive tier means restaurants, churches and other businesses would not be able to continue offering indoor services.

On May 15, the board of supervisors held a special meeting to address the concerns of the business community. Ultimately, the board voted to “clarify that local businesses may open up at their own risk if they can operate safely following the guidelines for national chains, and they feel they can justify such actions to the state.”

Kings County received 250 applications when they made up to $5 million in CARES Act funding available to local small businesses . The money was intended to help those that had suffered significant impacts due to shutdown orders. Awards of up to $20,000 per applicant were approved.

Verboon says the county agreed to an initial 14 day shutdown at the beginning of the pandemic to ensure the hospital system was not overwhelmed. He says things have changed since the early days of battling the virus.

“I don’t think shutting down due to the virus is a way to cure it,” says Verboon. “We need to learn to live with it.”

“We anticipate if things stay the way they are, that between this week and next week over half of California counties will have moved into a more restrictive tier.”Dr. Mark Ghaly

Testing Regularly

Verboon says he gets tested regularly every Monday morning. He says there are 22 testing sites available to residents throughout the county. The county even has a list of free mobile test sites on a rotating weekly basis.

“It’s important for people to get tested regularly,” says Verboon.

Based on the state’s data on November 10, Kings County did enough testing to reduced their case rate per 100k by 2 full points. In comparison, nearby Fresno County didn’t do enough testing, and was penalized from 7.9 cases per 100k to 8.3.

Verboon says he’ll even impose a test policy for people wanting to come to his house for Christmas. “It just takes one person not following the rules to infect others,” says Verboon.

Kings County Small Business Community

The co-owner of Mike’s Grill in Hanford, Patti Murrietta, said they burger spot has been able to stay afloat with takeout and some limited indoor seating. She suspects that if the county does go into the purple tier they’ll have to go back to just takeout and outdoor seating which makes staying in business really difficult.

It’s going to be cold soon,” she says referring to outside seating. “So then what?”

“We’re a mom and pop place. I cannot afford for ABC to come at me, otherwise I would be open.”Chris Graham, co-owner of Plan B Taphouse

Chris Graham and his wife opened Plan B Taphouse in Hanford about 3 years ago. Graham tells GV Wire℠ that he’s fortunate to have very little debt as a result of being able to outright buy the building. The only employees he has to worry about are himself and his wife.

Graham shut down his 900 square foot business on March 17, and hasn’t been able to open since. He says it’s unfortunate that he can’t use the 2,000 square foot beer garden behind his business because he doesn’t operate a kitchen – which is a state requirement to open.

“We’re a mom and pop place. I cannot afford for ABC to come at me otherwise I would be open,” says Graham. “But it’s not worth it. This is my whole retirement.”

Graham says it’s heartbreaking to see other businesses near him breaking the rules and opening while he remains closed. He says he does have a big problem with Kings County not enforcing the rules on others. “But I also understand, who is going to enforce it? If there’s a complaint they’ll deal with it. If there’s no complaint, they’re turning the other way,” explains Graham.

For Graham’s taproom to open, Kings County would need to be in the ‘orange’ tier. “We’re waiting it out,” says Graham.

Half of Counties Could Drop Tier

California’s health and human services secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly spoke on Tuesday when the last batch of COVID-19 data was released.

“We anticipate if things stay the way they are, that between this week and next week over half of California counties will have moved into a more restrictive tier,” says Ghaly. “That certainly is an indication that we’re concerned and that we have to keep a close watch.”

[activecampaign form=25]

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

Karbassi Running for Fresno County Elections Clerk, Says He Can ‘Do Better’

DON'T MISS

Global Eggs Completes Acquisition in US, Closes New Deal in Europe

DON'T MISS

‘I Never Said He Called My Son the N-Word.’ Fresno Unified Trustee Thomas Tries to Erase Accusation Against Former Bullard Coach

DON'T MISS

UnitedHealth Group CEO Steps Down as Company Lowers, Then Withdraws Financial Outlook for 2025

DON'T MISS

FDA and RFK Jr. Aim to Remove Ingestible Fluoride Products Used to Protect Kids’ Teeth

DON'T MISS

Caltrans’ Response to Homeless Encampments Is Lagging, Cities Complain

DON'T MISS

Democrats Seeking California Governorship Strut Their Stuff for Union Leaders

DON'T MISS

Israeli Strike on Gaza Hospital Kills Wounded Journalist

DON'T MISS

Republicans Face Internal Disagreements Over Trump Tax Cut Package

DON'T MISS

Netanyahu Says There Is ‘No Way’ Israel Halts the War in Gaza Until Hamas Is Defeated

UP NEXT

Netanyahu Says There Is ‘No Way’ Israel Halts the War in Gaza Until Hamas Is Defeated

UP NEXT

Cassie Testifies in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sex Trafficking Trial. What to Know About the Star Witness

UP NEXT

Has the California Dream Become a Mirage?

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Jeffrey Allen Burrus

UP NEXT

Jayson Tatum Carried off Floor With Right Leg Injury and Celtics Star Will Have MRI

UP NEXT

Dallas Mavericks Win the NBA Draft Lottery, Eye Cooper Flagg for No. 1 Pick

UP NEXT

‘Click It or Ticket’ Underway in Fresno. How Does It Impact Drivers, Passengers?

UP NEXT

US Inflation Stable Before Expected Jump From Tariffs

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Facing Multiple Charges After Violent Freeway Pursuit and Shooting

UP NEXT

As Fresno Files First Case, Maxwell Vows to Protect Wage Theft Unit

UnitedHealth Group CEO Steps Down as Company Lowers, Then Withdraws Financial Outlook for 2025

3 hours ago

FDA and RFK Jr. Aim to Remove Ingestible Fluoride Products Used to Protect Kids’ Teeth

3 hours ago

Caltrans’ Response to Homeless Encampments Is Lagging, Cities Complain

4 hours ago

Democrats Seeking California Governorship Strut Their Stuff for Union Leaders

4 hours ago

Israeli Strike on Gaza Hospital Kills Wounded Journalist

4 hours ago

Republicans Face Internal Disagreements Over Trump Tax Cut Package

4 hours ago

Netanyahu Says There Is ‘No Way’ Israel Halts the War in Gaza Until Hamas Is Defeated

5 hours ago

Cassie Testifies in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sex Trafficking Trial. What to Know About the Star Witness

5 hours ago

Once in Sync, Trump and Netanyahu Now Show Signs of Division

5 hours ago

Has the California Dream Become a Mirage?

5 hours ago

Karbassi Running for Fresno County Elections Clerk, Says He Can ‘Do Better’

Mike Karbassi says he can do a better job running elections than the current county clerk and is challenging James Kus in 2026. Karbassi,...

34 minutes ago

34 minutes ago

Karbassi Running for Fresno County Elections Clerk, Says He Can ‘Do Better’

Eggs are displayed at a supermarket in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., April 13, 2022. Picture taken April 13, 2022. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska/File Photo
2 hours ago

Global Eggs Completes Acquisition in US, Closes New Deal in Europe

3 hours ago

‘I Never Said He Called My Son the N-Word.’ Fresno Unified Trustee Thomas Tries to Erase Accusation Against Former Bullard Coach

3 hours ago

UnitedHealth Group CEO Steps Down as Company Lowers, Then Withdraws Financial Outlook for 2025

3 hours ago

FDA and RFK Jr. Aim to Remove Ingestible Fluoride Products Used to Protect Kids’ Teeth

4 hours ago

Caltrans’ Response to Homeless Encampments Is Lagging, Cities Complain

4 hours ago

Democrats Seeking California Governorship Strut Their Stuff for Union Leaders

Palestinians inspect the damage at the European Hospital, which was partially damaged following Israeli airstrikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 13, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
4 hours ago

Israeli Strike on Gaza Hospital Kills Wounded Journalist

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

Search

Send this to a friend