Inyo County businesses were able to open within the confines of Governor Gavin Newsom’s requirements last Friday, but the County has fallen just short of moving farther through the State’s four-stage process as the Governor moved the goal posts.

The hope, expressed by Marilyn Mann, Health and Human Services director, and Anna Scott, deputy director, is the County will have the final plan ready for review by the Board of Supervisors by the May 12 meeting, then final approval the following Tuesday, May19. Scott told the Board a meeting is being scheduled for this week to go through the County’s documentation.

Supervisor Jeff Griffiths suggested the County shouldn’t have to wait for the Board’s regularly scheduled meetings. Once HHS has incorporated the latest State mandates into the reopening plan, the Board could call a special meeting.

HHS staff will be meeting with State Public Health personnel this week.

           Elements of the initial requirements included:

• No more than 1 case per 10,000 in the last 14 days
• No COVID-19 deaths in the past 14 days
• Ability to support employees when sick or exposed
• Availability of disinfectant supplies and protective gear
• Minimum daily testing of 1.5 per 1,000 residents
• At least 15 contact tracers per 100,000 residents
• Ability to temporarily house at least 15-percent of county residents experiencing homelessness.