June 17, 2020 NEWS RELEASE: Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency Announces Closure of Visalia TulareWORKs District Office Due to COVID-19

The Human Services Branch of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) confirms that one public employee at the Visalia TulareWORKs District Office, located at 1845 N. Dinuba Blvd. in Visalia, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee began to show symptoms and notified a supervisor.

The County has instructed all employees during this time that they should not come to work if they show any symptoms of illness. The Agency has closed the location for cleaning and is notifying all members of its workforce with whom the infected employee may have had potential contact. The Agency had begun to limit the number of employees working at each of its sites in March, which has limited exposure to other County employees. Additionally, public access to this office has been closed since March 23, 2020.

It is not unexpected that employees may become ill as COVID-19 continues spreading throughout the community. The HHSA has protocols in place to address this and similar situations involving employees who become ill. These protocols include: asking employees to stay home if they show any symptoms, reporting any symptoms that develop during working hours, asking non-essential employees to work from home, maintaining sufficient social distancing in the workplace, and consistently using excellent hygiene and cleaning practices.

With the Visalia District Office expected to be temporarily closed, those needing services can contact the call center at 1-800-540-6880.

The Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency is diligent about the protection of patient privacy, in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and for this reason we cannot release any other information about the affected employee. The information released about the positive COVID-19 cases in Tulare County is carefully curated to provide useful information to our community members, while also excluding information that would lead to the identification of affected persons. This is a protection, provided by law, that is extended to everyone.

For more information about COVID-19, visit www.tchhsa.org/ncov and www.covid19.tularecounty.ca.gov


Agency News

2024 Walk with a Doc Program

2024 Walk with a Doc Program

Held the second Saturday of each month in Visalia, Walk with a Doc is a free community outreach program, which strives to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages. This doctor-led group is a fun and safe place to go for a walk, learn about health, and meet new friends.  

Booster Seat or Seatbelt?

Booster Seat or Seatbelt?

If you are unsure if your child needs to continue to sit in a booster seat while riding in a car, there is a five-step test you can utilize before moving to a seat belt. 

Video: Navigating Medicare Enrollment

Video: Navigating Medicare Enrollment

The Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging (K/T AAA) and HICAP help Medicare consumers with things like benefit coverage, billing, consumer rights, and coordination of parts A, B, C, and D. So, how do you enroll in Medicare? Let us show you! 

SHIP/HICAP: A Place and Guide for Medicare

SHIP/HICAP: A Place and Guide for Medicare

Nearing age 65 and not sure when to enroll in Medicare? Received a bill from Medicare and aren’t sure which course to take? For over 40 years, staff at the Kings/Tulare HICAP have provided information, and often relief, to Medicare consumers.