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.
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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 –… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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.… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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.… Read more »
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+… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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,… Read more »
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… Read more »
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… Read more »