Mono County COVID-19 News and Updates: March 21
Public Health confirms one positive test, MLT opens food bank, Mammoth schools will not re-open, Yosemite NP and other public land closures
Public Health confirms one positive test, MLT opens food bank, Mammoth schools will not re-open, Yosemite NP and other public land closures
By Monica Prelle
On Saturday morning, Mono County Public Health reported its first presumptive positive case of the novel coronavirus, presumptive meaning it is a likely positive and waiting on confirmation from a state laboratory. The test was performed by LabCorp.
The male patient, who is in his 40s, was hospitalized March 15 and is reportedly in good condition. Individuals in contact with the patient are being identified and self-quarantining at home with Mono County Public Health supervision.
According to John Hopkins University data, the U.S. currently has the fourth highest number of infections and is increasing at the highest rate of any country. Italy had its highest single-day death toll yesterday with 627. Mono County is currently reporting one presumptive positive case, five negative, 30 tests pending, and 36 tests given. Inyo County is reporting zero positive cases.
It has been one week since Mammoth Mountain closed, and since then Mono County and the state have been rolling out directives, most notably a stay at home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday. All non-essential businesses are now closed causing widespread lay-offs state-wide. Mono County Public Health is expected to reissue its tourism lodging ban later today.
Mammoth Lakes Tourism is opening a food bank to support Mammoth residents affected by recent job loss. A drive-through pick-up distribution is scheduled to start on Monday, March 23 at the Promenade (previously known as the Luxury Outlet Mall) next to Black Velvet Coffee on Main Street. The food bank will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 3 to 5 p.m.
MLT is using tourism business income district (TBID) funds and partnering with U.S. Foods to operate the food bank. According to Executive Director John Urdi, the food bank will continue as long as necessary.
Just a few months ago the California Employment Development Department was reporting unemployment at a record low of 3.9 percent. EDD is now receiving an unprecedented number of applications for unemployment insurance and because of the high demand online filing is recommended. The good news: the state has waived the usual one-week waiting period for benefits due to the disaster.
Earlier this week, the National Restaurant Association sent a letter to the White House asking for $145 billion for a Restaurant and Foodservice Industry Recovery Fund. The organization is predicting the restaurant industry will lose 5 to 7 million jobs. Even before California’s stay at home order, locally, restaurants were ordered to close except for takeout or delivery. Coffee shops fall under restaurant mandates and cannot allow for indoor or outdoor seating. Bars, breweries and the like should be closed.
The Mono County Social Services lobby is currently closed; however, staff are working normal hours and can be contacted by phone and electronic means to apply for benefits, schedule an appointment, or ask questions about assistance programs. The Cal Fresh application, for “food stamps,” can be completed online.
The 2020 Census has begun, which is now more important than ever as federal funding for county services are allocated by population. Residents will not receive census information to a post office box, but can fill out the form online.
Mono County Behavioral Health reminds us to be kind to ourselves and others during this time. Counselors are available for phone support seven days per week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (760) 924–1740.
In a letter to parents yesterday, Mammoth Unified School District announced that schools will be closed for the remainder of the school year. The district intends to use distance learning technology to keep students in touch with their teachers regularly. A virtual parent meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 23 at 3 p.m..
Mammoth Christian Fellowship continues to provide school lunches; however, this may change with the MLT food bank opening. Beginning Monday, March 23, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will be available by request. Email for more information: mcfcoronavirushelp@gmail.com.
Mono County Libraries are currently closed, but waiving late fees and expanding online resources.
Gov. Newsom issued an executive order last week, which authorizes local governments to halt evictions for renters and homeowners, slows foreclosures, and protects against utility shutoffs for Californians affected by COVID-19. The order, however, does not relieve tenants from paying rent or limit a landlord’s ability to collect rent that is due.
“What I’d encourage, if you are going to have a problem paying your rent, is to call your landlord and try to negotiate, work something out,” Mammoth Town Councilmember John Wentworth said. “It is not in anybody’s interest to be exercising the burdensome laws of the state to get things resolved. It is in everyone’s best interest to be talking to each other.”
According to Mono County Supervisor Stacy Corless, this is on the agenda for Thursday’s special meeting.
Last week Mammoth Mountain laid off all of its 1,400 winter seasonal employees. According to Eric Clark, Chief Operating Officer of Resort Services, seasonal lay-offs and reduced hours had begun earlier in the month due to the ongoing drought. Sierra Nevada snowpack is currently at 52 percent of normal, according to the California Department of Water Resources snow survey.
In a normal snowpack year, Mammoth seasonal employee terminations happen gradually in the weeks after Easter, but because of the disaster the lay-offs came all at once and earlier than expected.
The mountain housing task force continues to work with employees on an individual, case-by-case basis. According to Clark, the mountain has 520 beds for seasonal employees and the mountain is paying for and providing transportation to Reno and Los Angeles airports to help get people home.
A number of Peruvian seasonal employees have safely made it home with travel assistance from MMSA. Still, some continue to work with the housing task force and Peruvian consulate on flights out of the country
“We are working through the confusion that the community has seen,” Clark said. “The most important thing for us right now is to make sure our people are safe.”
Yesterday three more states joined California in ordering residents to stay at home: Connecticut, Illinois and New York. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee continues to take all of the same drastic measures, but rather than issuing legal orders he’s pleading with residents to stay home, the Seattle Times reports.
Mono County banks, post offices, gas stations, medical facilities and other critical services are still open. The stay at home order does allow for outdoor exercise including dog walking, running, or hiking, but with social distancing practices while recreating outdoors. Mammoth Lakes Recreation is asking residents to recreate responsibly during the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19.
With Mammoth Mountain’s closure, more people have been heading out into the backcountry than usual and there have been reports of overcrowding on the Sherwins and other local trailheads. In a statement, the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center says that the organization acknowledges the appeal, but also advises backcountry travelers to consider how personal decision making can impact the community.
“Recognize that if you do choose to recreate in the backcountry and are injured or are involved in an avalanche, the systems for rescue may not be available,” the statement said. “Any injury requiring a hospital visit will add undue burden on our already stressed healthcare system. This could be a time to avoid the backcountry. If you choose to head out, every effort should be made to avoid injuries.”
Inyo County Search and Rescue is requesting that residents do not take part in high risk outdoor activities at this time including backpacking, climbing, peak bagging, backcountry skiing, or anything that puts you at risk for potential rescue.
In a letter to the Inyo National Forest yesterday, the City of Bishop has formally requested the closure of overused climbing sites on public lands including the Buttermilks and Chalk Bluffs (Happy and Sad Boulders) citing travel to these areas is a violation of California’s Stay at Home order.
Last week, the Mammoth Track Club, an Olympic development team, suspended its elite athlete group practices. Today, USA Track and Field sent a letter to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee urging the organization to advocate for the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. MTC head Coach Andrew Kastor says that the club is in support of the USATF recommendation.
“In this time, we must think above ourselves and act for the health and safety of our global community,” Coach Kastor said. “Everyone is being challenged, and in an Olympic year, I feel for the athletes, sponsors and organizations who have already logged so much preparation. But, these unprecedented times call for equally unprecedented decisions.”
Nanaka Izawa, a Japanese athlete, who made Mammoth her altitude training base this past year, returned home to be closer to family. She hopes to get back to altitude training soon.
The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in Nevada made the decision to close Pyramid Lake including all rivers that flow through the reservation, effective Monday, March 23 until further notice. (An aside, in January the Nevada Department of Wildlife released 21 big horn sheep to the reservation.)
The Pacific Crest Trail Association is asking thru-hikers to postpone or cancel their trips.
And, Yosemite National Park yesterday announced that it is closed to all park visitors until further notice. This comes just a day after the Department of the Interior announced free entrance to parks.
Monica Prelle is a Mammoth Lakes-based freelance journalist.