Inyo County saw “slight increases” in cases of COVID-19 in late June, but as of Monday, June 18, is just encouraging people to wear face coverings in indoor public places, not mandating as has Mono County and Los Angeles.

“We are concerned that as case rates increase in other areas,” Anna Scott, deputy director of Health and Human Services stated in an e-mail, “the risk for local transmission will also increase as people travel.”

Scott attributes the surge in cases state-wide to the rapid transmission of the Delta variant. While the variant is not any more severe than the original COVID, it transmits more rapidly than the first wave of the disease. That rapid transmission among non-vaccinated people has thrown a huge wrench into what had been a welcome reprieve from restrictions we’ve all been living with for the past 16 months.

Inyo County vaccination rates are just a few percentage points below the state numbers with 67-percent having received one dose, 59-percent fully vaccinated. The California numbers: 70.6-percent have received one dose; 61.1-percent fully vaccinated.

The mask recommendations especially apply to those who are unvaccinated or those who have age or health concerns that put them at greater risk, Scott stated.

So, here’s how you get vaccinated:

• Go to myturn.ca.gov to schedule an appointment or
• Schedule an appointment with one of the providers: Northern Inyo Hospital, Southern Inyo Hospital, Valley Health Team, Toiyabe Indian Health Project, Vons Pharmacy, Dwayne’s Friendly Pharmacy or Rite Aid

As vaccinations ramp up, the County’s testing locations and hours have been pulled back.

Locations and times for COVID-19 testing: Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop, Tallman Pavilion, Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m.); Lone Pine Senior Center, Statham Hall, 138 N. Jackson Street, Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch.