An issue with the data logger in the shipping box has called into question the viability of 14,800 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that arrived in Fresno County Wednesday. The data logger tracks the vaccine through travel to ensure it stays appropriately cold while being transported "We are coordinating...
New COVID Protocol Means Valley Ambulances Might Not Take You to Emergency Room
"We are in a very grim, challenging time when it comes to the pandemic," Fresno County Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra said in a Friday afternoon briefing with reporters. Emphasizing the point, Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties will begin sending paramedics with ambulances on Friday to determine whether...
New Alternate Care Site Takes Shape Just as COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives
Tuesday was "a historic day" said Dr. Rais Vohra, Fresno County's interim health officer. The first shipment of 7,800 doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine arrived by Fedex at the health department early in the day. Simultaneously, a team contracted from AMI Expeditionary Healthcare that includes doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals...
Will COVID Vaccine Arrive This Weekend? Local Hospitals to Decide Who Gets It First.
"We expect the vaccine to arrive as early as this weekend," Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted late Friday afternoon. Fresno County Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra says his department is expecting 7,800 doses from the initial batch. "It will be up to the hospitals to determine who will get it...
Salons, Barbershops Have Become ‘Go-To Sacrificial Lambs to the COVID Gods’ Attorney Says
Fresno County health officials believes the California's recently announced COVID shut down order is all but certain to happen, it's only a matter of time. "I won't be surprised if it's in the next couple of days," said Fresno County Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra during a Friday morning...
COVID Hospitalizations Worry Fresno’s Top Doc. County Surpasses 35,000 Cases.
Fresno County passed a sobering 35,000 COVID-19 cases on Friday with the latest health department report. Since the pandemic began, 35,278 COVID cases have been reported, with 463 deaths and 171 patients currently hospitalized. "We've been watching those hospital numbers very closely. They're ticking up," said Fresno County interim health...
Costco Will Now Require Shoppers With Medical Conditions To Wear Face Shields
The message from Costco's CEO is straightforward and to the point. "Effective Nov. 16, 2020, we will require all members, guests and employees to wear a face mask or face shield at Costco locations," writes Craig Jelinek, President and CEO Costco Wholesale on the company's COVID-19 webpage. Costco has had...
After Supervisor’s COVID Diagnosis, County May Modify Board Room
Fresno Supervisor Steve Brandau's COVID-19 diagnosis may result in additional safety precautions at Board of Supervisors meetings, a county official said Friday. Brandau acknowledged the supervisors' meeting dais provides less than the recommended 6 feet of separation between board members. "I’m probably about five feet away from my colleagues on...
Surging COVID-19 Cases Across US Worry Fresno’s Top Doc: “I Think Our Time Is Coming”
The city of Milwaukee is very similar in population to Fresno with roughly 585,000 residents. COVID-19 cases are rising there at such a rapid pace, the mayor just issued updated health orders requiring more shutdowns of the local economy. "This is a very serious situation," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett told Fox...
Rapid COVID Tests Promised by Trump Arrive in Fresno. Where Will They be Used?
The Fresno County Department of Public Health is developing a plan to deploy 18,000 rapid COVID-19 tests the Trump administration hoped would be used to quickly reopen schools. They're among about 100 million of the tests the federal government is distributing to states. Interim county health officer Dr. Rais Vohra announced...