Update, 5:57 p.m., Friday, July 10:

The city of Fresno now says it won’t provide 2,500 surgical masks for the Harvard Block sale, and councilmember Esmeralda Soria is asking residents not to participate in the event because of COVID-19 concerns.

Original story:

Neither blazing heat nor COVID-19 is stopping the Harvard Block Sale, which is a decades-old tradition for Fresno bargain hunters.

Although the thermometer is expected to hit 104 degrees Saturday, shoppers will start hitting street-lined Harvard Avenue in cool of the morning in the Fresno High neighborhood.

And, City Hall says it is providing 2,500 surgical masks for sellers and buyers who attend the many yard sales comprising the event.

Protecting Health at Yard Sales

Yard sales and other sales of personal property are allowed under the city’s COVID-19 rules. But city officials reminded residents Friday in a news release to follow public health protocols. The guidelines include wearing masks, sanitizing your hands, and practicing social distancing.

To ensure COVID-19 safety compliance, there will be two code enforcement officers at the Harvard Block Sale, city officials said.

Fresno County had 7,906 coronavirus cases and 87 deaths through Friday.