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Tulare County Superior Court suspends jury trials for 60 days

Wednesday, March 25, 1 p.m.

Tulare County Superior Court will follow a statewide order to suspend all jury trials amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, Tulare County Presiding Judge Brett Alldredge announced all jury trials — civil and criminal — are suspended and continued for 60 days.

"We are keenly aware that limiting the public’s access to public proceedings is an extraordinary order, however, we are in an extraordinary time," Alldredge said.

Tulare County has 18 COVID-19 cases

Wednesday, March 25; 10:15 a.m.

Tulare County public health officials announced one new COVID-19 case Wednesday morning, bringing the total to 18 — and tying neighboring Fresno County.

The patient is between the ages of 26-40 and acquired the disease through travel, officials said during a daily update video posted to the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency's Facebook page.

The individual is self-isolating at home.

The agency urged the public to reconsider day trips and travel plans and to follow the governor's statewide stay-at-home order to prevent exposure to the virus.

"If you have a trip that's outside of even Tulare County, California or the country, we are strongly suggesting that you consider canceling that trip," said Tammie Weyker-Adkins, public information officer, Health and Human Services Agency. "Stay home so that you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe."

She added that the Tulare County Public Health Lab has tested 367 total patients for COVID-19 as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, including Tulare County and the central San Joaquin Valley.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks close

Wednesday, March 25, 8:15 a.m.

Effective immediately, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks are closed to all park visitors until further notice.

Highway 180 remains open for pass-through traffic to access Giant Sequoia National Monument and private property. All other roads and parking facilities are temporarily closed.

The closures came after park officials spoke with the Tulare County Department of Public Health.

"The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority," stated Sintia Kawasaki-Yee, National Park Service public information officer, in a Wednesday press release. "(NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic."

National Park Service officials will notify the public when the parks resume full operations and provide updates on the parks' website www.nps.gov/seki and social media channels @SequoiaKingsNPS.

Visalia Rescue Mission may shutter after funding takes a hit

Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 a.m.

The Visalia Rescue Mission, a faith-based shelter that operates about 150 beds, has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic. The charity lost 60% of its funding after the governor's shelter-in-place order temporarily shut down its thrift stores, Rescued Treasures and Simply Chic Boutique.

Tulare County has 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19

Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 a.m.

Tulare County Public Health Department says there are 17 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county.

The most recent patient is between 25 and 40 years old and is self-isolating at home, health officials said. The case is travel-related.

Lutz said the Tulare Public Health Lab has processed 355 tests, including 124 from other counties.

The lab was one of the first 40 in the country to do testing, but now that other testing centers have cropped up, the lab has been able to focus more on processing Tulare County tests.

Lutz said testing capabilities will likely double once new equipment is installed sometime today.

President Donald Trump aims to reopen the country before Easter

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is hoping the United States will be reopened by Easter as he weighs how to relax nationwide social-distancing guidelines to put some workers back on the job during the coronavirus outbreak, while contradicting the warnings of public health officials on the direction of the crisis, according to the Associated Press.

Trump said he was already looking toward easing the advisories that have sidelined workers, shuttered schools and led to a widespread economic slowdown.

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