Page 18 - Mid Valley Times 8-26-21 E-edition

Thursday, August 26, 2021 | A18 | Mid Valley TiMes
SCCCD to mandate COVID vaccinations as of Oct. 15
MVT Staff Report
The State Center Commu- nity College District will be requiring students and oth- ers on campus to show proof of vaccination for COVID-19 starting in mid-October.
At a special board meeting held Aug. 23, SCCCD trustees voted to mandate vaccines for students, employees, contrac- tors, and visitors beginning Friday, Oct. 15. The district’s COVID protective measures are subject to legally required exemptions for sincerely held
religious beliefs and medical conditions.
The trustees' meeting was originally scheduled for Aug. 20, but was rescheduled after more than 700 participants at- tempted to join the video meet- ing. That left some people un- able to access the meeting be- cause of capacity issues. The meeting was rescheduled to Aug. 23 as a Zoom webinar, and was livestreamed on YouTube.
In a news statement af- ter the meeting, Douglas Houston, interim chancellor for SCCCD, said "I am very
proud of the governing board for scheduling the meeting in a manner that ensures the broadest possible participa- tion by the public, students, faculty, and staff for this very consequential decision.”
The decision will be in effect to all district employ- ees, students, contractors and members of the public visiting any campus. This in- cludes, but is not limited to, indoor and outdoor facilities at Reedley College, Fresno City College, Clovis Communi- ty College and the other four
SCCCD campuses.
The SCCCD has been op-
erating under emergency conditions since March 13, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with lo- cal, state and federal health authorities the District has is- sued various requirements to help slow the spread of CO- VID-19. Those requirements have included physical dis- tancing, remote work, room occupancy limitations, and wearing face coverings.
In addition to requiring employers to provide a safe
workplace for employees, Cal- ifornia law requires the Board of SCCCD Trustees to cooper- ate with local health officials in taking measures necessary to prevent and control the spread of communicable dis- eases among its student body.
The special board meeting was held to allow students, staff and the community to comment before the Trustees made its decision.
The district's decision comes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge locally and across the nation.
VIRUS
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that 1.007,366 doses had been administered (50.4 percent overall, 61.2 percent residents), and 436,204 people had re- ceived final doses.
Vaccination numbers in Tulare County contin- ued to creep toward the 400,000 mark, with the California vaccine web- site reporting the county had 379,190 partial vacci- nations given as of 11:59 p.m. Aug. 23. Of these, 210,782 were full vacci- nations.
Organizations and health workers continued to work hard to provide vaccination opportunities for people who haven't received a shot. On Aug. 20 in Orange Cove, Fres- no County teamed with Cultiva Salud and the
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As of the most recent update on Tuesday, Aug. 24, there had been 112,445 confirmed cases (35.8 daily cases per 10,000 population) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) out of 1,490,246 tests in Fresno County, with 1,759 deaths and 398 hospitalizations (74 in ICU).
Cove had 1,600 (2,820 regional) cases and 13 deaths. Del Rey was at 315 cases (900 in region) while Fowler had 1,256 cases (1,100 in the city) and 22 deaths through Aug. 24. Dunlap and Miramonte had 316 total cases on the new data surveillance website through Aug. 24. The county no longer lists recoveries in its regular surveillance data.
Among Mid Valley Times cities in the county through Aug. 24 (Fresno County's new dashboard surveillance has provided updates for regions rather than cities; and no updates have been given for weeks), the Sanger region remains with the most total overall positive cases with 6,102 (4,700 in the city proper) and 67 deaths in data on the Fresno County Department of Public Health website.
In Tulare County, there was an adjusted total of 53,129 confirmed cases (1,867 active, an increase of 522 for the week) of COVID-19 with 855 deaths and 158 people (18 in ICU) hospitalized as of Tuesday, Aug. 24. Breakdowns by cities/regions through Aug. 24 show 4,562 cases in Dinuba, 1,582 in Orosi, 781 in Cutler, 285 in Traver, 70 in the rural area south of Reedley and 24 in the rural area southeast of Orange Cove.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Orange Cove 12-year-old Jesus Barba displayed his vac- cine card after receiving his first COVID-19 vaccine shot during an event at Citrus Middle School on Aug. 20. Je- sus came to the event with his father, Juan Barba, who already had received his shots.
Through the Aug. 24 update, Reedley (including immediate surrounding rural areas) shows 4,454 cases (3,600 in the city proper) and 72 deaths; Parlier was at 2,970 (2,600 in city) cases with 41 deaths and Orange
A total of 50,407 people (94.9 percent) in Tulare County were listed as recovered as of Tuesday, Aug. 24.
UFW Foundation to of- fer a free vaccine event at Citrus Middle School. While supplies lasted, all people getting vaccinated received two free tickets to the Alejandro Fernãn- dez concert in Fresno on Sept. 12.
A steady stream of people came in to get shots and tickets. That included 12-year-old Jesus Barba, who was getting his first Pfizer vaccine shot. He was ac- companied by his father, Juan Barba, who had al- ready received his shots. Jesus, the youngest sib- ling, was the final child in the family to get his shot while turning 12.
Reedley College stu- dents, faculty, staff and
visitors to campus have direct interest in being vaccinated. Earlier this week, the State Cen- ter Community College District announced that they would mandate vac- cines (save legally re- quired exemptions for sincere religious beliefs and medical issues) for all on campus, effective Friday, Oct. 15.
For the week, hos- pitalizations increased by 84 (to 398) in Fresno County and 32 (to 158) in Tulare County. Intensive care cases climbed by 18 for the 7-day period end- ing Aug. 24 in Fresno County, and remained stable for the week in Tulare County (17 total) with a late decline.
COVID-19 update
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MVT Staff Report
Dinuba police arrest- ed two women last week for soliciting and engag- ing in prostitution at a central Dinuba massage parlor. It was the second incident involving illicit activity at the business within the last seven months.
On Aug. 19, officers served a warrant and arrested 46-year-old Li- ang Ju Liao and 50-year old Jiping Gao. Charges were filed with the Tu- lare County District At- torney's Office.
Police had received
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shooting, and received five felony charges in- cluding a felony bench warrant. All three were accused of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.
The suspects remain in custody in the Tu- lare County Adult Pre- Trial facility as of Aug. 24; Cruz on $560,000
several complaints re- garding the massage parlor, located in the 500 block of West El Monte Way, regarding prosti- tution-related activities. Liao was accused pif providing sexual favors to customers.
Back on Feb. 4, three women were arrested at the same establishment on suspicion of soliciting prostitution.
Anyone with informa- tion regarding this case is asked to call the Dinu- ba Police Department at (559) 591-5911 or remain anonymous by calling 591-TIP1.
bond, Jesus Fernandez on $500,000 bond and Miguel Fernandez on $20,000 bond. All three are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Aug. 26.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call the Dinuba Police Department at 591-5911 or 591-TIP1, in order to remain anonymous.
Two women accused of
prostitution at central
Dinuba massage parlor