-July 5,2020-
Kaweah Delta has 150 employees with COVID
Kaweah Delta Hospital CEO Gary Herbst pleaded with the public at a County news conference July 3 to follow social distance rules and wear mask as county hospitals experience a new surge of cases.There are some 75 beds filled with COVID patients. He said 150 KD employees have now tested positive for the Coronavirus.
Tulare County’s cumulative case rate per 100,000 has increased to over 300 as of July 2 from around 100 as of June 1. Over the last two weeks, officials have confirmed 1,581 new cases, which amounts to 343 per 100,000.
Herbst says the hospital is near capacity now with the return of normal -non COVID treatment patients- compounded by what has been a sudden surge in COVID patients in recent weeks. The pressure on the staff is as big a problem as the lack of available beds with over 50 employees quarantined at home and exhausted workers facing 12 hours shifts. He describes his pleas to the public as “desperate”.
While it may be too soon to say, the daily case load in Tulare County went down on 7/2 to 97 cases says the state. They had been as high as 160 to 200 daily in recent days.There has been 136 deaths in the county since this began, most coming from nursing homes.
Tulare County reports the recent COVID surge matches what we see across the country with more younger victims testing positive and fewer cluster victims from food processors and nursing homes. Still workers from a Fresno County meat plant are testing positive. Some 19 Tulare County residents from the Harris Ranch in Selma have tested positive for COVID-19.Fresno County will not release the details.Fresno County reports a surge in new cases, a new daily high at 381 on 7/3.
Hispanics face higher risk of COVID, not in Tulare County
Tulare County Hispanics number 53.5% of COVID cases according to the Tulare County Public Health Department, actually below the 65.6% Hispanic percentage in the County. Statewide the percent of Hispanics among the California COVID cases as of July 2 is 57.5% ,well above their 38.9% percentage of the population.
Tulare County property value rises
Tulare County ’s property value total for the 2020/21 year went from $36.5 billion a year earlier to $38.3 billion, an increase of 4.95%. Visalia’s assessed roll increased 5.69% while Woodlake led all cities with a pump of 7.49%.
Bookings rise at Visalia Convention Center
One of Visalia’s key economic indicators – secured future hotel room nights – is signaling prosperous years ahead despite the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Visit Visalia, the area’s leading hospitality and tourism organization, announced today major convention bookings for future years that combined will bring more than $2.5 million into the local economy. These groups represent religious, fraternal and multi-level marketing segments and are estimated to bring 10,115 hotel room nights to the city. This outpaces 2019, which accounted for 9,156 room nights contracted and represented $2.3 million in economic impact.
In the largest booking yet – a Catholic fraternal organization dedicated to promoting and conducting educational, charitable, religious and social welfare work is expected to bring 8,500 cumulative room nights over a 5-year period and an economic impact of more than $1.5 million. In June 2020, the pandemic forced a large cancellation but the convention has now been rebooked.
Goodwill plans relocation
Goodwill will be moving from their Mooney Blvd store across from the mall sometime soon.The 14,000sf building has been put up for lease while the charity seeks a smaller space.
Credit union coming to northside
Tulare County Federal Credit Union wants to build a 3000sf office on the northeast corner of Mooney and Riggin on land owned by the Shannon family.
Big development slated for Riggin and Akers.
A 511-acre mixed use development north of Riggin and west of Akers is in the works. The project mostly located on Shannon family land, would be masterplanned around several schools to be built or already built in the area. Most of the project would be dedicated to new homes.Called Carlton Acres, the property is also known as Hayes Ranch.
Cardinal Logistics truck facility planned inTulare
A remolded building at 2861 South K Street, the former Valley Veterinarians building, will house trucks used to deliver milk to Land O Lakes and Saputo. Cardinal Logistics will be operating the new Tulare business after Valley Vets relocated to a new larger space at 116 W Cedar Ave as of March 2020. Cardinal Logistics is a freight company owned by H.I.G Capital of Miami.