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Why Mammoth Lakes Is Turning Away Visitors Why Mammoth Lakes Is Turning Away Visitors
(5 days later)
Good morning.Good morning.
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The Times has joined forces with the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism to provide expanded coverage on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting California.The Times has joined forces with the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism to provide expanded coverage on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting California.
More than 80 students and nearly 20 journalism instructors have been organized to report on the impact of the novel coronavirus in each of California’s 58 counties. They are gathering data, helping correspondents and producing stories — the first of which is today’s dispatch about Mammoth Lakes:More than 80 students and nearly 20 journalism instructors have been organized to report on the impact of the novel coronavirus in each of California’s 58 counties. They are gathering data, helping correspondents and producing stories — the first of which is today’s dispatch about Mammoth Lakes:
For most of the year, about 8,000 people live in Mammoth Lakes, a resort town 7,881 feet high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. At peak ski season, the population triples, a fact normally welcomed by civic leaders.For most of the year, about 8,000 people live in Mammoth Lakes, a resort town 7,881 feet high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. At peak ski season, the population triples, a fact normally welcomed by civic leaders.
But not now. Not when surrounding Mono County has the highest rate of coronavirus infection in the state. Not when the county’s lone hospital has just 17 beds. Not when transferring a patient to another hospital means a special medical evacuation flight at a cost of up to $50,000, and when even this option can be delayed by frequent blizzard conditions. And when the town’s thin air only makes respiratory ailments worse.But not now. Not when surrounding Mono County has the highest rate of coronavirus infection in the state. Not when the county’s lone hospital has just 17 beds. Not when transferring a patient to another hospital means a special medical evacuation flight at a cost of up to $50,000, and when even this option can be delayed by frequent blizzard conditions. And when the town’s thin air only makes respiratory ailments worse.
[See our interactive coronavirus case map for California.][See our interactive coronavirus case map for California.]
“I’m absolutely terrified,” Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County’s public health officer, said in an interview the same day Mammoth Lakes decided to set up a highway checkpoint to turn away tourists.“I’m absolutely terrified,” Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County’s public health officer, said in an interview the same day Mammoth Lakes decided to set up a highway checkpoint to turn away tourists.
Dr. Boo and other county officials were stunned by how swiftly the virus spread through this community. In late March there was one confirmed case in Mono County; two weeks later, 19 people were infected, one person had died, and four more had symptoms serious enough to require hospitalization.Dr. Boo and other county officials were stunned by how swiftly the virus spread through this community. In late March there was one confirmed case in Mono County; two weeks later, 19 people were infected, one person had died, and four more had symptoms serious enough to require hospitalization.
This relentless math is behind the growing fear that Mammoth Hospital, which has four ventilators and two I.C.U. beds, will soon be overwhelmed. Adding to the worry, an infected patient’s special medical evacuation flight last month was held up for hours by a snowstorm.This relentless math is behind the growing fear that Mammoth Hospital, which has four ventilators and two I.C.U. beds, will soon be overwhelmed. Adding to the worry, an infected patient’s special medical evacuation flight last month was held up for hours by a snowstorm.
In a letter to the state health department, Thomas Parker, chief executive of Mammoth Hospital, said that based on the rapidly deteriorating conditions, the hospital was bracing for a surge of up to 100 patients a day, with several dozen likely needing ventilators because of the altitude. “We expect our ability to transfer to a higher level of care (Reno or Los Angeles) will soon be eliminated due to saturation of those hospital facilities,” he added.In a letter to the state health department, Thomas Parker, chief executive of Mammoth Hospital, said that based on the rapidly deteriorating conditions, the hospital was bracing for a surge of up to 100 patients a day, with several dozen likely needing ventilators because of the altitude. “We expect our ability to transfer to a higher level of care (Reno or Los Angeles) will soon be eliminated due to saturation of those hospital facilities,” he added.
Dr. Boo put it more bluntly: “In that situation,” he said, “people will die."Dr. Boo put it more bluntly: “In that situation,” he said, “people will die."
[An expert explains numbers to watch to better understand the coronavirus crisis.][An expert explains numbers to watch to better understand the coronavirus crisis.]
With no good alternatives, the town has concentrated its efforts on the twin challenges of emptying the town of skiers and snowboarders and blocking access to people fleeing the likes of Los Angeles and San Francisco to wait out the pandemic in their vacation homes.With no good alternatives, the town has concentrated its efforts on the twin challenges of emptying the town of skiers and snowboarders and blocking access to people fleeing the likes of Los Angeles and San Francisco to wait out the pandemic in their vacation homes.
“If they’re here and they’re sick, we can’t help them,” Ingrid Braun, the sheriff of Mono County, explained.“If they’re here and they’re sick, we can’t help them,” Ingrid Braun, the sheriff of Mono County, explained.
On March 15, a day before San Francisco became the first major metro area in the nation to order residents to shelter in place, Dr. Boo declared a local health emergency in Mono County. Ski areas were closed, followed by hotels, motels and bars. In the days since, Dr. Boo has issued increasingly severe directives, including the threat of a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail for going to work sick, even for jobs deemed essential. The Mono County tourism commission started a social media campaign to actually discourage tourism — #MonoPause.On March 15, a day before San Francisco became the first major metro area in the nation to order residents to shelter in place, Dr. Boo declared a local health emergency in Mono County. Ski areas were closed, followed by hotels, motels and bars. In the days since, Dr. Boo has issued increasingly severe directives, including the threat of a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail for going to work sick, even for jobs deemed essential. The Mono County tourism commission started a social media campaign to actually discourage tourism — #MonoPause.
When people kept coming, local leaders considered simply shutting down the state highway into town. They settled on a slightly less severe option: establishing the highway checkpoint. Once this step gets state approval, everyone headed into Mammoth Lakes will be stopped and questioned. Only locals and those with essential business will be allowed through.When people kept coming, local leaders considered simply shutting down the state highway into town. They settled on a slightly less severe option: establishing the highway checkpoint. Once this step gets state approval, everyone headed into Mammoth Lakes will be stopped and questioned. Only locals and those with essential business will be allowed through.
“We’re not xenophobes,” Sheriff Braun said. “We’re just really worried about being able to take care of the people who live here.”“We’re not xenophobes,” Sheriff Braun said. “We’re just really worried about being able to take care of the people who live here.”
Updated August 12, 2020 Updated August 17, 2020
[Read more about how vulnerable ski communities are responding to the coronavirus.][Read more about how vulnerable ski communities are responding to the coronavirus.]
Dr. Boo is spending restless nights brainstorming new ways to keep his friends and neighbors safe. The hospital has been split into Covid-19 positive and negative areas. An ethics plan about who will get access to lifesaving equipment is in place, a matter of urgency since the state said it could take weeks or months to supply a half-dozen more ventilators. And Dr. Boo is wondering when it will be necessary to close everything that’s still open — grocery stores included — to buy the town a little more time.Dr. Boo is spending restless nights brainstorming new ways to keep his friends and neighbors safe. The hospital has been split into Covid-19 positive and negative areas. An ethics plan about who will get access to lifesaving equipment is in place, a matter of urgency since the state said it could take weeks or months to supply a half-dozen more ventilators. And Dr. Boo is wondering when it will be necessary to close everything that’s still open — grocery stores included — to buy the town a little more time.
“Lying here at 5:20 a.m., the story isn’t really a road checkpoint,” Dr. Boo wrote in a recent email. “It’s about a little mountain town and its little hospital on the verge of getting crushed.”“Lying here at 5:20 a.m., the story isn’t really a road checkpoint,” Dr. Boo wrote in a recent email. “It’s about a little mountain town and its little hospital on the verge of getting crushed.”
Annie Berman is a second-year student at the U.C. Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.Annie Berman is a second-year student at the U.C. Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.We often link to sites that limit access for nonsubscribers. We appreciate your reading Times coverage, but we also encourage you to support local news if you can.
Capt. Brett E. Crozier, a Santa Rosa native, led a top Navy ship. Now, his colleagues say, his move to challenge the Trump administration’s narrative that it has the coronavirus pandemic under control has left him in quarantine, infected and fired. [The New York Times]Capt. Brett E. Crozier, a Santa Rosa native, led a top Navy ship. Now, his colleagues say, his move to challenge the Trump administration’s narrative that it has the coronavirus pandemic under control has left him in quarantine, infected and fired. [The New York Times]
And, if you missed it, here’s the story about a leaked letter from Captain Crozier pleading for help from the Navy as the virus spread on the ship he led: “Sailors do not need to die.” [The San Francisco Chronicle]And, if you missed it, here’s the story about a leaked letter from Captain Crozier pleading for help from the Navy as the virus spread on the ship he led: “Sailors do not need to die.” [The San Francisco Chronicle]
A San Gabriel man came home from a business trip and started feeling unwell. He lost his sense of taste and smell. About a week later, he was dead. “I kept trying to get him tested from the beginning,” his wife said. The man, who tested positive after he died, is most likely one of what experts worry are many uncounted coronavirus deaths. [The New York Times]A San Gabriel man came home from a business trip and started feeling unwell. He lost his sense of taste and smell. About a week later, he was dead. “I kept trying to get him tested from the beginning,” his wife said. The man, who tested positive after he died, is most likely one of what experts worry are many uncounted coronavirus deaths. [The New York Times]
Even after Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a statewide moratorium, sheriffs’ departments are still evicting renters. Tenants’ groups say the ban was insufficient and too limited to protect vulnerable residents. [CalMatters]Even after Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a statewide moratorium, sheriffs’ departments are still evicting renters. Tenants’ groups say the ban was insufficient and too limited to protect vulnerable residents. [CalMatters]
A federal court rejected an emergency plea to release thousands of California prison inmates early amid the coronavirus crisis. But the move was procedural, and state officials said it doesn’t affect their plans. [The Sacramento Bee]A federal court rejected an emergency plea to release thousands of California prison inmates early amid the coronavirus crisis. But the move was procedural, and state officials said it doesn’t affect their plans. [The Sacramento Bee]
In San Diego, hospitals are weighing treating patients in college dormitories. In Los Angeles, a hospital will use 3-D printing to make ventilator parts. Across the state, hospitals are deploying proven fixes and new ideas to make way for a surge of coronavirus patients. [California Healthline]In San Diego, hospitals are weighing treating patients in college dormitories. In Los Angeles, a hospital will use 3-D printing to make ventilator parts. Across the state, hospitals are deploying proven fixes and new ideas to make way for a surge of coronavirus patients. [California Healthline]
“Everyone could have Covid-19.” As millions of Americans hunker down at home, many workers — from flight attendants to firefighters — don’t have the option. [The New York Times Magazine]“Everyone could have Covid-19.” As millions of Americans hunker down at home, many workers — from flight attendants to firefighters — don’t have the option. [The New York Times Magazine]
“There is no politician, there is no City Council member, there is no billionaire, who is more influential in Beverly Hills than Gloria.” Nate ’n Al’s, the beloved deli, suddenly closed, which means Gloria Leon, 69, a veteran waitress there, is the hottest free agent in town. [The Los Angeles Times]“There is no politician, there is no City Council member, there is no billionaire, who is more influential in Beverly Hills than Gloria.” Nate ’n Al’s, the beloved deli, suddenly closed, which means Gloria Leon, 69, a veteran waitress there, is the hottest free agent in town. [The Los Angeles Times]
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Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, graduated from U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter, @jillcowan.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.