Inyo County California

The Inyo County Public Health team is monitoring levels of several respiratory illnesses circulating through our community, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Influenza, and COVID-19. The spread throughout the community is noticeable and we will continue to see increased cases during the holiday season and winter months. The Public Health team is working closely with healthcare providers to monitor activity and minimize stresses on resources.

As respiratory virus activity continues, we strongly recommend individuals consider the following preventative measures:

• Inyo County Public Health strongly recommends influenza vaccination and the COVID-19 primary series or bivalent booster vaccines for everyone 6 months and older:
  • All vaccines take 10 to 14 days to reach full efficacy. The influenza vaccine and the COVID-19 primary series or bivalent booster vaccines may be co-administered.
  • Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccines are available through most healthcare providers, including Dwayne’s Friendly Pharmacy, Valley Health Team, Toiyabe Indian Health Project, Vons Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Northern Inyo Rural Health Clinic, Southern Inyo Rural Health Clinic, and the Public Health Clinic.
    • The Public Health Clinic is open for appointments and walk-ins every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Clint Quilter County Office Building
      • Address: 1360 N. Main Street, Bishop CA 93514.
      • The Clinic will be Closed on: Thursday, November 24, 2022
         
• Additional prevention measures that are strongly encouraged to help stop the spread of respiratory viruses include:
  • Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cough or sneeze into your elbow, arm, or disposable tissue. If disposable tissue is used, use hand sanitizer or wash hands afterwards.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Wear a mask in indoor public or crowded spaces. 
  • Stay away from people who are sick.
  • Stay home when sick!
    • Parents and caregivers are encouraged to keep young children with acute respiratory illnesses out of childcare, even if they have a negative test for COVID-19.
    • Individuals may return to work/school/childcare after symptoms have resolved, including at least 24 hours passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
    • Patients who test positive for SARS- CoV-2 should follow current CDC isolation guidance.

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Inyo County is currently in the MEDIUM transmission level of the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Index.

For more detailed COVID-19 trend information, please visit the COVID-19 Data & Resource page.

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INYO COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINE CLINICS:

To review current vaccine eligibility guidance, visit the CDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Chart.

Find COVID-19 vaccine clinics and providers by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or visit: www.inyocounty.us/vaccine-clinics

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to email: VaccineInfo@inyocounty.us

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INYO COUNTY COVID-19 VACCINE COVERAGE:

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COVID-19 TESTING LOCATIONS –ANTIGEN/RAPID AND PCR TESTS:

FREE COVID-19 testing is available every week in Bishop and Lone Pine; Patient IDs (accounts) and Appointments are required. Learn more here. **CLOSED on Holidays – Lone Pine: 11/25/22**

!! CLOSURE ALERT !! –The Lone Pine COVID-19 testing site at Statham Hall will be closed and demobilized at 11:00 am on Friday, December 9, 2022. There is no plan for the site to reopen; individuals will be directed to other resources should they need COVID-19 testing or COVID-10 test-to-treat support.

COVID-19 testing is not available at the Public Health Clinic/County Office Buildings.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests are available at no-cost
through select at Health & Human Services offices; while supplies last.

Our two OptumServe testing sites offer antigen/rapid testing, PCR tests, and Test-to-Treat services. Through this program, individuals can get tested, assessed by a medical provider, and (if appropriate) given prescription antiviral pills (Paxlovid or Molnupiravir) all in the same location.

Inyo County COVID-19 testing, and medications are currently free at the OptumServe sites. All Test-to-Treat sites and other locations that can fill COVID-19 prescriptions can be located on the Test-to-Treat Locator.

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COVID-19 THERAPEUTICS:

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis, Monoclonal Antibody Therapy, and Oral Antiviral Medications have received emergency use authorization (EUA) for the treatment of COVID-19 symptoms.

All authorized and available allocations of treatments are available in Inyo County. Prescriptions for therapies/medications will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in receiving a COVID-19 Therapeutic and would like to know if you qualify, speak with your health care provider. If appropriate, your provider may give you a prescription or refer you for an outpatient infusion.

If you do not have established care with a regular doctor, there are also Test-to-Treat locations available throughout the community. Through this program, individuals can get tested, assessed by a medical provider, and (if appropriate) given prescription antiviral pills (Paxlovid or Molnupiravir) all in the same location. Local Test-to-Treat sites are located at the OptumServe community-based testing sites in Bishop and Lone Pine.

For more information on COVID-19 therapies and oral antivirals, visit: inyocounty.us/covid-19/therapeutics

NOTE TO PROVIDERS: (as of 05/18/2022) Public Health has dissolved the requirement for healthcare providers in Inyo County to utilize Provider Attestation Forms when referring/ordering/prescribing COVID-19 therapeutics.

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FACE COVERING INFORMATION:

CDPH is maintaining the masking requirements in specified high-risk settings, consistent with CDC recommendations.

Masks are still required in the following locations for ALL individuals:

• Healthcare settings;
• Indoors in emergency shelters and cooling/heating centers;
• Long Term Care Settings & Adult and Senior Care Facilities;
• Homeless shelters;
• State and local correctional facilities and detention centers;

Additionally, CDPH strongly recommends masks for all persons, regardless of vaccine status, in indoor public settings and businesses.

Guidance for Businesses: In workplaces, employers are subject to the CalOSHA COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.

CDPH is maintaining the requirement that businesses and venue operators, including K-12 school and childcare settings, must allow any individual to wear a mask if they desire to.