Inyo County saw a dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases, most reportedly infected at through association with residents and employees of the Bishop Care Center. Between August 1 and August 3, Inyo County has seen an increase of thirteen (13) new COVID-19 cases, bringing the cumulative Inyo County number of total case numbers over the past five months to 64. At this time, three (3) positive COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, including two in critical condition. Aside from the concern over the health of those infected, there is worry that the state will roll-back hard-earned progress in reopening businesses and the economy in Inyo County.
Following is the latest news release from Inyo County on the latest surge:
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Only one of the nurses at the FIRST BIRTHDAY party tested positive. One. And that was very recently. This person did not serve the area where the majority of the cases have occurred. A patient could have been admitted from the hospital covid positive if they were not tested upon leaving or got a false negative. But of course no one would ever believe that a hospital made a mistake. Especially a small town hospital (insert laughing emoji here).
Bishop is not isolated, covid was in the community to some degree prior to this. The census of the nursing home changes daily with people coming from hospital. There is so much that the posters spreading lies aren’t sharing. Flat out lies. They are not on the inside and don’t know anything. And this third rate newspaper isn’t helping either, deliberately misleading people to believe all the new cases in Inyo County are from BCC. This is laughable. You do understand there is a very small pool of staff to choose from in the area to staff BCC? They have worked all through the pandemic and some have chosen to still come into work during this time. You want to threaten them all with jail time? Who will take care of your loved ones? Crowd mentality, this is exactly how riots start. You are not helping your family members in the care center by spreading lies and making false accusations. You are creating more problems for the facility when they need to be focusing on staffing and solving this problem. You will be hard pressed to find a SNF with ZERO covid cases at this point in the game, and the BCC administration has followed protocols to a T to keep it out.
For those in the know, what is the real story? How about clearing up the misinformation.
Some people need to be fired and sued!
Now 21 residents at Bishop Care Center are COVID +, and 7 staff are isolating at home. Several employees attends a ‘COVID party’ out of the area, and then went back to work, now infected. They shared their COVID party fun on Facebook, instagram, etc. The Care Center admin admitted this was a fact, not a rumor, to approx. 30 families today in a Zoom call. They put 62 elderly, infirm, disabled residents at risk, and now ONE THIRD of the resident population is COVID positive, which past experience tells us, may be deadly. The employees actions are reprehensible and show a moral indifference that is hard to fathom. My nephew is one of the residents, and I’m angry, and scared.
This is just like the folks I heard about in Chalfant Valley that just had a birthday bash for about 75-100 middle aged no care people. Danced up a storm, ate, drank, and partyed.These type of party goers are the same folks going to Vons, post office, and to work places in town. Thanks to them many people will get very sick and could die.They are also the folks that will shut down are small communities and put som many people out of business. The people at Bishop Care Center have been stuck in their rooms and have not been able to socialize or see family members for months. To solve this on going problem I think we should put the people that continue to party in a 10×10 room with only food and water no social at all…….sounds like jail…
If this is true it is absolutely mind boggling. This is beyond unethical, it’s the equivalent of criminal behavior.
If true, sounds as though it indeed is true, corroborated, it amounts to some sort of criminally negligent behavior.
Where are our elected officials speaking out against this behavior? Where are the elected officials of Inyo County expressing concern?
Currently the silence is disturbing and pathetic. Very disappointing, negligent behavior from various elected officials nationwide in this regard as well.
One thing is certain, none of the workers involved from the Care Center should be allowed to work in the healthcare industry, and by all means face the consequences of their reckless actions.
No one purposely got infected. Spreading lies instead of support for the exhausted and overworked nurses is not wha they need right now.
I’ve already responded to your ludicrous false assertion and narrative.
No one is purposely trying to get infected.
You’re spreading false assertions and flat out lies.
This is very misleading and misinformed to what actually happened. You’re spreading hate. Why not offer more support for the hardworking people who are now overwhelmed trying to care for their patients. No one held a “COVID” party. No one purposely got infected.
Who’s saying they were purposely infected?
The photos on social media amount to clear evidence of reckless behavior.
Dee, for those of us not on social media, what are the photos of? Thank you.
I’m not on social media, no Facebook for me!!
But a friend who’s on Facebook showed me photos of the restaurant in Big Pine loaded with people, no one had a mask on.
Bekx, you are correct: hardworking, overwhelmed staff needs to be supported. Since you seem to know the truth about the “misleading… misinformed to what actually happened,” please tell all of us what the truth actually is. Hopefully the truth will dispel the rumors.
Well the governor closed everything but inyo and mono counties..all the socal people rushed up here like it was the gold rush all over again.. what do you expect?
Isn’t more cases with less deaths actually better? Nice spin!
Your spin on spin sounds like spin to me.
Your rationale that only “deaths” matter in this pandemic is minimizing the long-term sequelae that we already know people will suffer unnecessarily as a result of infection. BCC is populated with vulnerable patients. There will no doubt be deaths in that facility as a result of this. If you take that as “spin” then you’re a truly horrible person.
Yes, very concerning. And is Inyo county prepared for even more cases? Is the hospital staffed and prepped to isolate? Do our Dr.s and nurses have proper ppe?(I’ve been told no!) And to those residents that resent wearing masks, you are as much to blame as the tourists swarming and not distancing in town. Lets be proactive, responsible and practice kindness
We (local news media) are on a conference call every week with the doctors in charge over at the Northern Inyo Healthcare District, along with other key hospital staff. They assure us that they are fully prepared and equipped to handle any emergency situation that might come their way. There’s no reason to not believe them. Whenever they have had a problem with PPE, they were always up front about it, and were usually on top of rectifying the problem. Dr. Brown and Dr. Timbers have always been candid in their comments with us and always answered our questions. As far as PPE in general, it has been a problem across the country ever since this pandemic began. Hopefully the problem will be resolved over time.