Mono County COVID-19 News and Updates: March 24
Gov. Newsom says harder outdoor closures may be coming; Eastern Sierra avalanche forecasting; Mono County confirms second positive, two…
Gov. Newsom says harder outdoor closures may be coming; Eastern Sierra avalanche forecasting; Mono County confirms second positive, two hospitalized
By Monica Prelle
The World Health Organization warned that the U.S. could soon be the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic. At a press conference in Geneva on Monday, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said the U.S. is increasing at an alarming rate. Over the last 24 hours, 40 percent of new cases worldwide are in the United States.
In an ongiong effort to slow the spread of the cornoavirus in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new restrictions on outdoors use yesterday. Normally seeing Californians outside enjoying parks and beaches would warm his heart, he said, but people are congregating and not practicing social distancing as directed in the stay at home order issued last Thursday.
“I don’t want to close big beautiful open spaces,” Gov. Newsom said. “Not when we are encouraging people to go outside with intention and purpose…to deal with the health needs that we all have, being outdoors and taking a deep breath, practicing common sense and social distancing.”
But overcrowding outdoors pushed the governor to place stricter restrictions on access. All state park parking lots are closed, effective immediately. This soft closure intends to reduce stress on outdoors spaces, but hard closures may be coming.
“We can’t see what we saw over the weekend happen again,” he said. “Society becomes how behave. We are our behaviors. We need to improve our behaviors.” (Watch the full clip below.)
The Mono Lake State Tufa Reserve and Bodie State Historical Park are the only state parks in Mono County, both of which already had winter seasonal closures in place. All Mono County playgrounds and bathroom facilities are closed, though the parks themselves are not restricted; the Town of Mammoth Lakes also closed all playgrounds.
In Mono County, there are no public land closures or limits on recreation, yet, though all local government agenices are asking recreationlits to be responsible.
“(We) are working to find ways to avoid full shutdown of public lands — for those within reach — as we’re seeing with national parks,” Mammoth Lakes Recreation board member David Page said.
Since the mountain closed and the Eastern Sierra received its biggest storm cycles of the year, backcountry use increased. Anecdotally, there have been reports of backcountry users building kickers in sidecountry areas with some injuries that required visits to Mammoth Hospital.
The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center board is having daily conversations about forecasting operations and has consulted with Mono County Public Health, the town and forest managers. Even with strong messaging discouraging backcountry travel, ESAC President Nate Greenberg says that he realizes people will still ski the backcountry and the decision to keep forecasting is for public safety.
“We are still seeing recreation happen, people going into the backcountry during some of the snowiest cycles of the season,” Greenberg said. “People are recreating and we are not going to be able to stop that short of a Forest Service order. The best thing right now is to help people make good decisions.”
The center has shifted operations and is now focusing on areas closer to trailheads, the more accessible “bread and butter” destinations in Mono County and Mammoth Lakes.
“It’s a fine line to walk,” Greenberg says of discouraging backcountry users, while still publishing advisories.
In other parts of the United States, backcountry access is closing all together and forecast reporting is stopping. Since Friday, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center recorded 33 human-triggered avalanches. Nine avalanches in San Juan County over a three-day period prompted the Sheriff’s Department to prohibit backcountry skiing.
Though skiing is not banned in the Sierra, the Inyo County Sheriff’s office recently issued a strongly worded statement discourage risky activities like skiing and climbing in order to alleviate additional stress on the hospital.
Because of concerns for the healthcare system, Avalanche Canada is shutting down its avalanche warning service for the year, effective March 28; and in response to Washington’s new stay-at-home order, the Northwest Avalanche Center also suspended forecasting operations.
Mono County Supervisor Stacy Corless says that she understands the desire to get outside, but she, again, reminds residents to practice social distancing when outdoors.
“Go out and get some fresh air,” she said, “but please, recreate responsibly, and limit risky activities to preserve first responder resources.”
[Watch: Wave Rave owner and five-time Verbier Xtreme Champion Steve Klassen on playing it safe right now.]
While the state is just getting settled in to the stay-at-home order, social distancing measures could last two or three months, Gov. Newsom said.
The state secured $1.1 billion in federal aid in order to bolster the coronavirus response. Funding from the emergency legislation package will be used to increase hospital bed capacity, and purchase medical equipment and personal protective equipment.
“It is going to take a heroic effort,” the governor said. “The magnitude of what we have to accomplish, we must do together as a nation.”
According to New York Times reporting, New York is currently the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic with more than half of cases in the U.S. and 4,700 new cases today.
California has 2,566 positive cases of the coronavirus and 51 deaths. Numbers of confirmed cases continue to increase as the state’s testing capacity expands. Mammoth Hospital also recently published alarming projections.
A second positive COVID-19 test result was confirmed yesterday in Mono County. The Mammoth Lakes woman is fully recovered and is self-isolating. Two other Mammoth Lakes residents were hospitalized over the weekend, both with suspected infections and results pending. And a critically ill patient was transferred to another hospital also with results pending.
Mono County is currently reporting two positive cases, 28 negative, 30 tests pending; a total of 60 tests have been administered. Mammoth Hospital transferred a critically ill patient and two others have been hospitalized, tests are pending. Inyo County is currently reporting zero positive cases, 20 negative, 34 tests pending, and 54 total tests administered.
The relatively good news: Since Mammoth Mountain Ski Area closed, Mammoth Police Officer Brian Madera says it has been pretty slow in town for the police department. Officers are still patrolling and keeping a close-eye on businesses that are closed to ensure there are no break-ins. “That’s the last thing these businesses need right now,” he said.
Recommended Read : “As the coronavirus pandemic unfolds, people are dying around the world. But the trajectories of cases and deaths differ by country.” Coronavirus Deaths by U.S. State and Country Over Time: Daily Tracking New York Times TheUpshot
Must watch: Gov. Newsom announces soft closure of state parks, says harder closures may be coming.
Monica Prelle is a Mammoth Lakes-based Freelance journalist.