Press Release
August 3, 2021 – Dr. Richard O. Johnson, Acting Public Health Officer for Mono County, has issued a Local Health Order (Order) requiring the use of face coverings (masks) for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents and visitors within indoor public spaces in Mono County and the Town of Mammoth Lakes. The Order goes into effect on Friday, August 6, and is in response to increasing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) cases locally and statewide, coupled with the added concerns of the Delta variant, as well as a number of “breakthrough” cases (positive COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated individuals).
“During the last six weeks, increased interactions among members of the public have resulted in an increased number of daily new COVID-19 cases in Mono County, with case rates more than quadrupling since reopening on June 15,” said Bryan Wheeler, Mono County Director of Public Health. “Community transmission of COVID-19 within Mono County is now considered Substantial by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicators, and we anticipate the rate to continue to increase over the coming days and weeks.”
The Order specifically states that “All persons within Mono County and the Town of Mammoth Lakes, regardless of vaccination status, shall wear face coverings while in public, indoor spaces.”
A number of counties have issued similar Orders in the past few weeks, including many of Mono County’s drive market counties such as Los Angeles County. In addition, both the CDC and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently recommended that unvaccinated and fully vaccinated individuals wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of Substantial or High transmission.
In addition, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team will be hosting a COVID-19 Community Conversation on Thursday, August 5th at 5:30pm to provide an update on the pandemic in Mono County.
Mono County residents and visitors are encouraged to visit the California Department of Public Health’s My Turn website at myturn.ca.gov to schedule local COVID-19 vaccination appointments, or visit an upcoming Mono County Walk-In Clinic (https://coronavirus.monocounty.ca.gov/pages/vaccinations). Mammoth Hospital, Vons, and Rite Aid have all joined in the vaccination effort, and appointments are available via My Turn. In addition to the My Turn website, appointments can be made directly with medical providers and at Mammoth Hospital.
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Wow, what a hornet’s nest! So just what are we going to do if say, a 7.6 quake were to level most of Bishop or any other town in the state? Fly criticals in the 2 or 3 helicopters that are here to Montana? We have a whopping 3 ICU beds and over worked Docs and nurses for the 18,000 people in Inyo alone. California has to shut everything down over and over because we can’t handle the number of Covid cases that we have. California has something like 7 to 8 thousand ICU beds for 40+ MILLION known residents. So why is no one asking the hard question of why nothing is being done about any of this?????? The medical corporates aren’t starving. They still get their bonuses. Why do they never reinvest profits back into the business, and just keep raising premiums? Just what are we paying our politicians for? None of them want to deal with this hot potato. Covid is here to stay. People from all over the world are going to keep bringing in new variants, maybe nastier ones. Masks won’t stop that. The vaccines of today will likely not work tomorrow. Our medical system currently cannot handle a large disaster. To date, we can’t even make our own face masks here stateside, we still have to buy them from guess where. So it’s Covid today, some other crud or disaster tomorrow, or both at the same time.
Been reading all these opinions, here’s my 2 cents. After wearing the mask indoors in public choosing to be vaxed back in April at the Fairgrounds, with all our plus year and a half investment in mitigation efforts, I see the need with the Delta surge to continue covid mitigation efforts. I am just as concerned with getting the Delta as I am in spreading it and I think everyone should have that concern. We need to crush this virus before it mutates into a vaccine resistant variant and you don’t need to be an immunologist to know that’s a possibility. Folks who are medically ineligible to be vaxed have my sympathy and the only excuse not to be vaccinated. Asocial individuals who rant about freedom of choice, who refuse to get vaxed, wear the mask, care only for themselves and are part of the reason we now have a Delta surge. They are not to be trusted to voluntarily wear a mask in public indoor places. Inyo County needs to reinstate mandatory mask requirements immediately to prevent the spread of the Delta variant and future restrictions for small business to remain open if we cant get a handle on this surge.
Masked Local, thank you for pointing out the obvious. Tinner, thank you also. To those of you who disagree with these commenters- clearly you are part of the brainwashed portion of the populace. One day, after the government completely changes the lifestyle we all used to know- and wars have been fought over for the freedoms we USED to have- well, maybe the liberals will finally complain when it affects them. By then though, it will be too late. What government in the world is competent and honest? The liberal media, in all its forms, has done more to manipulate people and their way of rational thinking; It has truly caused the divisions and societal collapse we are now facing.
Again, Stic,
This is not a partisan, liberal/conservative nor any political issue. It’s just science and for our welfare. Why people use topics like this to take out their frustrations with politics is a head-scratcher. Take off your biased glasses and merely take in the facts… sigh. They walk among us folks!
Stic, Thank you for proving the obvious. To those of you who refuse to wear a mask – clearly you are a part of the ignorant and/or sociopathic portion of the populace. On day, after a previously unknown and rapidly mutating virus has wreaked complete havoc in our communities – and wars are being fought between anti-masker/anti-vaxers and people who are intelligent enough to listen to reason – well, maybe the right wingers will finally understand when they and/or their loved ones are dying from this virus. By then it will be too late. What angry right-winger in the world is competent and honest? The conservative media, in all its forms, has done more to praise sociopaths and their entitled and irrational way of thinking; it has truly caused the divisions and societal collapse we are now facing.
fify
Hey Mono Resident I would agree with you there too. Just don’t lump me into some assumption that I am an “angry right winger”; those people are just as ignorant as the liberals. What ever happened to normal, middle of the road political viewpoints? It seems as though the country is so divided that now you are lumped into one side or the other with no middle ground… Of which I disagree.
Most of us ARE middle of the road with our political viewpoints, its just that the disingenuous media has us all divided. Because most people in this country have been educated, went to school, became halfway intelligent- we have an educated population. Most of us aren’t so stupid to believe our disingenuous government, or the manipulative media. Every day politicians and public figures lie to us, at all levels. From local governments to the highest office in the land. And they think we are gullible enough to believe them…As Tinner and others have said, how is it that we are supposed to follow ‘the new rules’ while at the same time our government is completely abandoning it own guidance at the border? How is it that Obama can have a superspreader event, yet the media barely addresses it? Who can you trust anymore? No one. That is why there is such
vaccination confusion.
Holy smokes! Why are we politicizing this issue? It’s purely science. Using this place to promote your political views is inane. Use another forum for that- if you must. Wearing a mask is not about “caving in to the government”, but rather, a prudent thing to do. Those of you who refuse (while you have that right) are not helping things at all. Blaming this on immigration, Biden, Fauci is ridiculous.
Jubie agreed, it’s not about politics like so many want it to be even though everyone has a hand in it. It’s about lives, not race, color, religion, gender, etc…it’s about lives many lives!
Need to mask up everyone, read all the cases that have gotten the delta variant that have been fully vaccinated, do research. I guess we can blame some or all, but the facts are we all need be masked and vaccinated in order to stop the spread. This really proves who cares and who doesn’t no matter how you look at it. Now all the little ones are getting it, during school outside of the city limits I saw maskless kids gathered together playing on the playground during a mandatory mask rule for K-12 this year, and yes we need revenue here but so many out of town folks no masks and still no masks in congested indoor/outdoor business operations did any authorities do anything about it, no they did not. So tell me who really cares? Gosh go figure we have more cases increasing weekly, well at least the ones they know about. Hmm I wonder what the next mutant variant will bring?
Many Moons, our federal government has allowed over 1 million untested and unvaccinated illegal immigrants from all over the world into our country, do you think our federal government really cares?
Tinner, I spent 15yrs in military life I understand but realistically we are not in control we never have been, all we can do is be responsible for our own actions and hope others will understand and care and do what’s needed to help stop this. If it’s possible to. I hope
Will one of you people please answer Tinners question. It doesn’t take much to hit the down fist, but not one (liberals, i expect) can answer his very relevant question. Just bash anyone that doesn’t agree with you! I’d better check my spelling or I’ll get bashed for that too.
I don’t think that this is chiefly a border and immigrant problem. There are many ignorant citizens who just don’t want to bother with the big overwhelming 5 minute interruption of their important day to have the vaccine administered. Here is the solution. At the entrance to every business have a guard who demands to see proof of vaccination. Let the government cut back a bit on the unemployment and other welfare to fund the guard crew. Whether a market, movie theater, hardware store,cannibus dispensary, public utility,ski area, bowling alley, restaurant, business office, bank (I could go on and on) If you are not vaccinated you can’t come in. Even hospitals and doctors offices. The news has warned you ahead of time that if you are not vaccinated just leave and go home and die. They told you,they warned you . The hospitals and our welfare system should not have to treat or pay for those that were forewarned. If they are that arrogant or that lazy or that self righteous I hope they die. It’s the thinning of the worst of the herd.
Joe, would that include hospital and healthcare workers including some at the CDC who have so far refused to get the vaccine?
Hoping death on anyone because they don’t believe what you believe shows the darkness of ones heart and soul, not sure how anyone gets to that point but it’s sad and a little scary.
https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210628/huge-number-of-hospital-workers
This article probably wasn’t written by Charles James since that Charles releases articles in his name, and you’re responding to Charles Jones. Your intelligence gives credibility to your beliefs.
The reality is people have made their choices and should be permitted to live the consequences of those choices. Vaccinated should not be punished to save/protect people who have chosen to stay unvaccinated and the more they attempt to force this issue the more controversial it will become. It’s impossible to save those that don’t want to be saved and it shouldn’t be the responsibility of the government to mandate this. If this truly was a comparable “Typhoid Mary” syndrome that would be another issue but this isn’t.
Exactly Maskless Local!!! I agree 100%! Vaccinated folks shouldn’t have to mask up to stop the spread to others who decide to not get the vaccine.
(I do, however, wonder if there’s some small percentage of people that either can’t get the vaccine or have compromised immune systems that make the vaccine less effective, for instance, cancer patients. I’d mask up for those poor folks, but I imagine many of them aren’t out in public since they want to avoid any type of infection.)
SWReader thank you for your comments. I have leukemia so even though vaccinated I have probably minimal if any antibodies. I love life and my community and volunteer for a number of non-profits and help my neighbors when I can. I would be safer if I disengaged from my community and avoided exposure but what kind of life would that be? I’m careful, always masked and distanced, but hugely appreciate folks who see me masked and offer to mask up themselves to make me feel safer, and especially appreciate those who do so without even asking. As Benjamin Franklin said in signing the Constitution, “we will hang together now or we shall all hang separately “.
Tinner I’m sure we all have some unresolved adolescent issues with authority . But if you keep quiet about it no one has to know.
Keep quiet and obey? Not a chance, that’s not how or why our country was founded, but you go ahead, knock yourself out, Old man.
Hey Tinner, I think that whooshing sound was Oldtimer’s point flying way over your head. Let me try to rephrase it:
It is better to remain silent and appear a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Whoooooosh – I’ll bet that one will follow the same trajectory – oh well, I tried.
And a great attempt it was.I guess someone could try being REALLY blunt but what’s the fun in that. Wait a second, this reminds me of an old saying. Something about teaching pigs to sing.
They are also enforcing state mandated policy for County employees! Masks even if you are “vaccinated” and mandatory weekly testing for those who are not and refuse to be injected! Proof of “vaccination” records and masks in all county vehicles and buildings! Crock of S*%# Mono! Four days notice, and the CAO of the county “believes” the Board of Supervisors has reviewed and approved!
Lawsuits lawsuits and more lawsuits!!
Pretty obvious what stinks. Let as many people in the country as possible, then give them amnesty, then citizenship, voting cards and all in time for the 2024 elections. What I don’t understand is the love affair with Harris. Why force feed her?? The polls indicate that even the Democrats aren’t wowed with her and never have been. Don’t get that one at all.
Too bad there was an interruption in mask mandates. We might have avoided this.
For every undocumented worker, there’s an employer out there providing them a job. When you rant about “illegals” maybe you should include the dozens and dozens of Eastside contractors and other businesses who knowingly and willingly employ these workers. Those businesses are every bit as “illegal” as their undocumented workers.
I won’t deny that our country could do a better job at managing immigration. But bottom line, as long there are hordes of willing employers providing jobs, people will continue to come here seeking those jobs and a better life for them and their families. And I can’t blame them, I would do the same thing if faced with the their circumstances. But if you really want answers, I’d say go down to the lumber yard or hardware store and ask some of the local contractors for answers.
Back to the actual subject of the article, I have no problem wearing a mask again if it helps us get through this marathon of a pandemic. It’s not that big of an inconvenience and I’m willing to contribute to the effort rather than kick and scream about it.
Charles, why don’t you retire already and stop Dede song your one sided articles!! Thanks
Open your eyes and re read the name.
@Openyoureyes,
Jones and James are similar names. I include my middle initial to make it even more clear who’s commenting. Apparently that’s still not enough for some folks.
#Open-your-eyes
Hey Open, Is “stop Dede song your one sided articles” supposed to mean something?
That’s great, Charles, you’ve just stated why people have always immigrated to America, no need to go to a lumber yard.
Now please explain why our federal government is telling us we need to wear a mask because of a worldwide pandemic while at the same time allowing a million+ untested and unvaccinated illegal immigrants from all over the world to enter our country.
Population of our country is roughly 332 million. 165 million Americans are fully vaccinated. You do the math Tinner. Or you could just place blame elsewhere.
Charles, okay, I did the math, what is your point?
About half of our 332+ million citizens have thus far chosen not to get vaccinated. Yet you’re focusing on the 1 million that (you allege) are coming here w/o vaccinations or testing. The point is there’s an 800 pound gorilla in the room and you’re preoccupied with the mouse in the corner.
Charles O, but where are the 1 million people coming from and where are they traveling through and what have they been exposed to?
Kind of ironic how we are seeing a spike in the delta variant in Texas, the same place where most of the illegals are crossing don’t ya think?
Should we not be enforcing our immigration laws? Part of these reason for our immigration laws is to minimize disease and viruses.
By the way mice can carry diseases such as hantavirus which has also killed people, they also cause a ton of damage.
Tinner,
5 states that have the highest numbers of new cases per capita as of August 2nd:
Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama,
These states share two things in common:
#1 – They have low vaccination rates.
#2 – They have political climates that have continually resisted public health guidelines.
One thing these states DO NOT have is a border with Mexico.
Charles O, close enough.
Thanks for at least trying to explain Corn Pop’s refusal to enforce our immigration laws and our border that protect the American people, you and one other out of over a hundred who gave a thumbs down, at least you spoke up.
Tinner,
I do prefer Corn Pops to Moldy Cheetos. And though we often see things differently, it’s obvious that you care about what’s going on, and I can appreciate that.
Charles, it is obvious you uncritically accept whatever government tells you at any time. That’s fine, but the government also told us that if we got vaccinated, we didn’t have to wear masks (President Biden). A former top Biden medical advisor then told us a few days ago that the types of masks we are wearing are minimally effective (Dr. Osterholm). It is a pity that the Biden administration is being undermined although in part it has only itself to blame.
And you may have persuaded yourself that masks are a minor inconvenience but for many of us they are a dehumanizing mandate that interferes with natural human interaction that has evolved over millennia. Masks are unnatural and dehumanizing and have never been mandated before for a healthy and free people. You choose to accept whatever burden an inconsistent and confused government chooses to impose on you even if its efficacy is dubious, but you should understand that many others might err on the other side – our bodies are our own, not the government’s – when the government itself cannot make up its mind for more than a few days. Can you wrap your head around that?
Just wait until you here about these things called PANTS.
I refuse!
When will our federal government START to enforce immigration laws on the border where illegals are being allowed into our country from all over the world untested and unvaccinated and then sent all over our country, many with covid19 symptoms?
Something seriously stinks here.
Question for anyone:
Why, if covid19 and the delta variant are so deadly, are so many illegals (well over 1 million people) being allowed to enter our country, transported and housed in hotels all over the country?
“Trust the science”? I have for the better part of the last year but not anymore.
I now trust my gut a lot more than I trust anything our federal government and Fauci says. Why? The border, man, the border!
Somebody please explain the border to me!
We’ve had problems at our southern border for decades, you make it sound as though it’s something new with your ludicrous false perceptions and assertions.
Dee, yes, we’ve always had problems at our southern border but never during a global pandemic and not in the numbers we are currently experiencing, so this is new, or at least quite different.
Please explain why we are being told to wear a mask to stop the spread while at the same time our federal government is allowing untested and unvaccinated illegal immigrants into our country many with Covid symptoms and then transported all over the country.
Is it not possible that part of the reason we are experiencing in increase in the delta variant is due to our southern being open?
To add a point or two, if this were about about saving people rather than hospitals and their bottom line than the government should be bolstering the hospitals and Health and Human Services departments withing counties that are supposed to act as “arms of the state”. Because hospitals have been privatized there has been no ongoing efforts to assure there are enough ICU beds when something like COVID-19 occurs. The hospital’s political lobby groups want everyone to believe it is not their fault or responsibility to be prepared for medical emergencies, after all profiting off of a pandemic is much more important than peoples lives as well as being prepared to do the job they are by law obligated to perform. It’s much easier to claim “under staffing” and work employees into an early grave.
What makes this even more irritating/aggravating is the fact that most of the pharmaceutical and medical supplies the US needs to assure we as a nation are prepared for these repetitive disasters are manufactured overseas, so much for being “the independent world leader”. With all of the big spending from government going on you will note none of it is correcting or focusing on strengthening our obvious weaknesses which as a tax payer makes me tremendously irritated….
Rather than voting along party lines and being political puppets and team players everyone needs to independently decide what is best rather than swallowing all of the unending lies that are continuously shoved down our throats…
This topic exemplifies the results of unending lies, every time we turnaround there is a new “latest version” of why we are living through the new decisions of political policy makers. Chicken Little syndrome, the lies and fabrications can only endure for so long before no one but the sheeple and team players believe anymore….