Mono County COVID-19 News and Updates: March 18
Mammoth Lakes Tourism asks non-residents to stay away, new CDC data shows that nearly 40 percent of U.S. hospitalizations are younger…
Mammoth Lakes Tourism asks non-residents to stay away, new CDC data shows that nearly 40 percent of U.S. hospitalizations are younger adults
By Monica Prelle
Updated March 19: At 3 p.m. on Thursday, Mono County Public Health Officer, Dr. Tom Boo, ordered the closure of hotels, motels, and short-term rentals in Mammoth Lakes with exceptions for non-tourism use. This article previously stated that hotels and lodging were still open.
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Mammoth Lakes Tourism is asking anyone who is not a primary resident of Mammoth Lakes, or providing essential services to Mono County residents, not to visit for the time being.
“The reason is simple: as a small, remote mountain community our healthcare facilities lack the capacity to handle a widespread outbreak of COVID-19,” the statement said.
Mono County has 17 hospital beds and 14,174 residents, according to data collected by the Department of Homeland Security and Commerce and reported in High Country News. That adds up to 0.001 beds per resident and with 0.008 beds per resident 65 and older.
The move by MLT to discourage tourism to the area is in-line with Mammoth Mountain closing until further notice. The United Airlines Mammoth flights will also likely shut down this weekend.
According to Executive Director John Urdi, MLT is freezing all marketing for now and is planning a rapid recovery for the business community when it is safe to do so.
Mono County Public Health released additional mandates yesterday. Health clubs and gyms are to be closed. Theatres, bowling alleys and other indoor recreations venues should close. All non-essential public gatherings or assemblies, regardless of size are prohibited, which includes outdoor recreation gatherings.
Reports of overcrowding at popular climbing areas in the West including Bishop, pushed the American Alpine Club to ask members to limit recreation-based travel in order lessen the impact on rural communities.
“While outdoor time is necessary for each of us during this turbulent period, we need to stay local and limit our interaction with vulnerable communities,” the AAC statement said.
“Consider also keeping outdoor objectives conservative to reduce the load on the medical system. Backcountry emergencies contribute to overloading hospitals and potential shortages of ventilators in intensive care units.”
The AAC also closed all of its lodging facilities including primitive camping.
Former Inyo National Forest Ranger John Kazmierski says that crowds in the Red River Gorge climbing area in Kentucky are like a “never-ending spring break.” The Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition is also asking climbers to stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
Southern Utah and Moab-area hotels and campgrounds closed to non-residents as of Monday. On Wednesday, the Southeast Utah Health Department issued even stricter closures on food establishments, public places, and overnight lodging establishments. Last weekend the Grand County COVID-19 task force saw Moab occupancy at 75 to 95 percent and said that closing lodging to tourism was congruent with ski area closures around the nation.
Even with reports of crowding on public lands and recommendations to stay home by numerous medical experts world-wide, the National Park Service announced free entrance to park sites that remain open. Huh?
France, Italy and Spain are in complete lockdown, which includes outdoor recreation. According to the BBC, European nations are expeteced to extend lockdowns with leaders reluctant to annoiunce an end to measures in place.
Still, the Leave No Trace foundation made recommendations for getting outside during COVID-19.
“Yes, we all need to get outside in our own backyards, but please let’s do so responsibly,” Mammoth Lakes Recreation board member David page wrote on Facebook. “Let’s do what we can to keep trailheads open and safe.”
(CDC social distancing recommedations apply to outdoor recreation.)
The biggest storms of the year arrived in Mammoth just as Alterra Mountain Company unilaterally closed its ski areas. Mammoth Mountain received 31 inches of fresh snow in the past 72 hours.
Avalanche danger is currently CONISDERABLE at upper elevations and MODERATE at mid- and lower elevations, according to the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center advisory on Wednesday.
According to a Center for Disease Control report released today, of the 508 patients in the U.S. who were sick enough from coronavirus to be hospitalized, 38 percent are adults between 20 and 54 years old. Nearly half of the 121 patients admitted to intensive care units were under the age of 65.
The new CDC findings served as a reminder that everyone needs to be safe and heed public health official mandates, even the younger and relatively healthy.
As of Wednesday night, Mono County is reporting zero positive cases, five negative cases and 22 tests pending results. Inyo County is also reporting zero positive cases.
Monica Prelle is a Mammoth Lakes-based freelance journalist.