Press Release: September 30, 2020

Protecting yourself, your family, and your community

CITY OF BISHOP, September 29, 2020 – Coronavirus/COVID-19 is a concern for everyone in the world at the moment and the City of Bishop along with our business community are committed to staying informed and passing along facts as we receive them.

The health of our community, our children, our businesses and our guests is paramount to the City Council. We are encouraging responsibility and common sense from residents and guests alike.

We are delighted that the state is now allowing outdoor playgrounds to open. The City’s playgrounds are now open including the new playground in City Park. Please observe the masking, social distancing and time limit rules that are posted.

The CDC, State and Inyo County Public Health orders are in place for your safety and the safety of others: https://www.inyocounty.us/covid-19/orders-directives.

Complying with these orders is what will help to keep Bishop open and safe. COVID-19 is spread mainly between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). When an infected person coughs or sneezes, respiratory droplets can be inhaled into the lungs of those in close proximity, which is why it is recommended that you wear a face mask every time you leave your residence for essential activities.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, but there are preventative measures that can limit exposure to the virus.

Preventative measures include:

• Wearing a cloth mask or face cover. CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. For a tutorial on how to make a mask with at-home items, visit the CDC face-coverings link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
• Handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
• Practice social distancing, and avoiding contact with sick individuals.
• Cover your mouth with a face cover, a tissue or with your elbow when you cough or sneeze.
• Disinfect surfaces often. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• For guidance on how to properly clean and disinfect household items visit the CDC link on Cleaning and Disinfecting. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html

“I’m proud of the efforts of our citizens in Bishop in containing the COVID-19 virus.  If we all do our part by following the guidelines as described, we can continue to control the number of COVID-19 cases and the impacts to our community,” stated City of Bishop Mayor, Laura Smith.