Select local COVID-19 testing sites are now offering "test to treat" services, Fresno County public health officials say. Through this program, people can get tested, assessed by a medical provider, and (if appropriate) given prescription oral antiviral pills (Paxlovid or Molnupiravir) in the same location. “Test to treat means...
Fresno Schools Still Not Ready to Provide In-School Quarantines for Kids
Fresno Unified School District is still at least a few days away from implementing an in-school modified quarantine for students identified as having had a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, district spokeswoman Amy Idsvoog said Wednesday. Based on feedback from school healthcare professionals, the district needs...
Newsom Announces Deal to Boost COVID Testing and Lower Costs
SACRAMENTO — California has signed a contract worth up to $1.4 billion with a company to provide a significantly cheaper coronavirus test that will allow the state to eventually more than double the number of people tested to 250,000 per day, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday. California now averages about...
At-Home Paper Test for COVID-19 Could Soon Be a Reality
Something similar to a pregnancy test could check for COVID-19 if MIT researchers are successful. Within minutes, and with no lab needed, you could have the results. The Sikes Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and 3M are jointly developing the test and seeing whether it is feasible to...
Want to Know If You’ve Had COVID-19? Fresno LVN Will Test You at Your Home
Wonder whether you've had COVID-19, but you don't want to leave the house to get blood drawn for antibody testing? Now you don't have to. Sylvia Sandoval and her husband Eddie are providing the service through their Fresno company O Labs, which they had set up earlier this year to...
New COVID-19 Test Site Opening at West Fresno Regional Center
The West Fresno Regional Center will join Fresno City College and the Sanger Community Center as OptumServe's third free COVID-19 test site in Fresno County. The site is expected to begin testing this week. The goal is to do 135 free nasal-swab tests a day. Tests are by-appointment-only and can be...
Utah Professor Developing COVID-19 Sensor to Detect Virus in 60 Seconds
University of Utah electrical and computer engineering professor Massood Tabib-Azar has received a $200,000 National Science Foundation Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant to develop a portable, reusable coronavirus sensor that people can carry with them. The sensor, about the size of a quarter, works with a cellphone and can detect...
Fresno Approves Permanent Ban on Carotid Restraint Use by Police
The Fresno City Council voted to outlaw the carotid restraint hold by police at its Thursday meeting. It was one of several significant items on the council's meeting agenda: Also in Politics 101: City Council approves carotid restraint ban. Hold would still be allowed under certain circumstances. Could there be a...
Fresno Considers Permanent Ban on Carotid Restraint Use by Police
The Fresno City Council will consider immediately outlawing the carotid restraint hold by police at its Thursday meeting. It's one of several significant items on the council's meeting agenda: Also in Politics 101: City Council considers carotid restraint ban. Hold would still be allowed under certain circumstances. Could there be a...
Red Cross Starts COVID-19 Antibody Testing in Merced Area
The American Red Cross began testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies in the Merced area Monday. The antibody test is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the coronavirus, regardless of whether an...