Nail salons, body waxing salons, and tattoo parlors can open soon in California, but in Fresno County, they'll have to wait two weeks. Late Thursday night, the state issued this guidance to county health directors:Â "Counties that are approved to progress further into the Resilience Roadmap can decide to open the...
Fresno Chaffee Zoo Opens Friday, CEO Delays Retirement
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday, zoo executive Scott Barton said in a late morning Zoom teleconference on Wednesday. Dr. Rais Vohra, interim health officer for Fresno County, joined Barton at the zoo for the announcement. "I really want to give you kudos for the very hard...
COVID-19 Spike Puts Fresno County on State’s Radar
The California Department of Public Health is paying extra attention to Fresno County after a spike in coronavirus cases. Fresno County Department of Public Health's Interim Health Officer Rais Vohra announced the development to reporters during a Monday afternoon Zoom call. "We've actually come to the attention of the state because...
West Nile Mosquitoes Found Within Fresno City Limits
Adult mosquitoes collected from an area around portions of the 93704 zip code area within the city of Fresno have tested positive for West Nile virus, according to the Fresno County Department of Public Health. West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States,...
When COVID-19 Hit, Firebaugh United to Squash It
In early April, Firebaugh was a COVID-19 hot spot for positive cases and deaths. Now the west-side farming town of 8,300 people is being cited by Fresno County health officials as a success story. How is Firebaugh flattening the virus? With teamwork that would make hometown hero and Buffalo Bills...
Vohra Makes Face Masks Voluntary After Supervisors Push Back
Dr. Rais Vohra, interim Fresno County health officer, is amending his early order requiring all residents to wear cloth face masks while shopping or indoors at work. Instead, county residents are encouraged to wear face coverings in those situations. Vohra's original order, which was signed Monday but didn't become public...
Face Masks Required in Fresno County, Supervisor Brandau Pushes Back
Editor's note: This story has been updated. Read the new story at this link. Original story:Â Â Dr. Rais Vohra, interim Fresno County health officer, signed an order requiring face masks starting Friday. "All residents shall use cloth masks or equivalent face covering while indoors at work, while visiting a business,...
UCSF Fresno Doctor: ‘Remdesivir Should Be Given to Anyone’ to Fight COVID
"In a perfect world, remdesivir should be given to anyone," says Dr. Eyad Almasri of UCSF Fresno. Dr. Almasri made the comments during a teleconference with reporters and the Fresno County Department of Public Health last week when discussing treatment options for COVID patients. Remdesivir, a novel antiviral drug, was originally...
Fresno County Gets Chance to Plead With State: Allow ‘Dine-in’ Food Service
Letter sent, letter received, and a Monday phone meeting is set. The subject: Allow Fresno County to open restaurants. Fresno County's interim health officer Vohra and health director David Pomaville got the immediate attention of state Health Director Dr. Sonia Angell with a two-page letter. "We are requesting to move further...
In State’s Eyes, Fresno County Isn’t Close to Reopening
Testing doesn't appear to be an issue. Nor is housing the homeless or having the hospital capacity to handle a surge in COVID-19 cases. But, if Fresno County wants to reopen, state officials say it must flatten the coronavirus curve and not have any pandemic-related deaths for 14 consecutive days....