Inyo County California

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

Individuals should continue to take precautions to protect themselves, family members, and friends.
Inyo County Public Health continues to recommend that individuals:

1. Wear a mask indoors and in public space—Surgical masks, N95s, or KN95s with good fit are highly recommended
   • People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
   • Masks are recommended in indoor public transportation settings and may be required in other places by state authorities.
2. Get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses when eligible
   • If you have not been vaccinated or boosted against COVID-19 and you are eligible, please consider making an appointment today at one of our participating providers.
   • Most of the COVID-19 infections among vaccinated individuals in Inyo County occurred in persons whose most recent dose of a COVID-19 vaccine was more than 5 months prior to infection and indicate a waning vaccine efficacy after 5 months in boosted and unboosted individuals.
3. Get tested if you are experiencing symptoms and follow Isolation & Quarantine recommendations.

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

------------------------------

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.

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

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.

------------------------------

AT-HOME TESTING KITS:

Order Online: www.COVIDTests.gov

Residents of the U.S. and territories can place another order of rapid at-home COVID-19 test kits.

How to place an order:

• Go to www.CovidTests.gov (Español)
• Click the blue button that says "order free at home tests"
• Fill out the information with your residential address
• Click the green button that says "check out now"

For more answers to Frequently Asked Questions, review the COVID-Test site or the Inyo County COVID-19 Testing website.

------------------------------

ISOLATION & QUARANTINE GUIDANCE

On Sunday, May 8, 2022, the local Inyo County Isolation & Quarantine Order was rescinded to align with CDPH Isolation & Quarantine Guidance.

• Read the Inyo County Public Health Isolation & Quarantine Guidance [Español]
• Read the CDPH Isolation & Quarantine Guidance

Isolation and Quarantine Recommendations for the General Public

All persons with COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status or previous infection, should:

• Self-Isolate - Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection, or lack of symptoms. 

Asymptomatic Persons who are Exposed to Someone with COVID-19:

• No Quarantine - Everyone, regardless of vaccination status.

------------------------------

COVID-19 VACCINES:

GET VACCINATED and BOOSTED –Vaccines prevent serious illness and hospitalization.

• Vaccine Eligibility – Vaccine clinics for everyone 6 months of age and older are available throughout the community. Find COVID-19 vaccine providers and vaccines available by texting your ZIP code to 438829 or visit: www.inyocounty.us/vaccine-clinics
• Under 5 Pediatric Vaccine – The under 5 Pfizer and Moderna vaccine have received CDC and FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Local providers have been working to ensure all safety supplies and staffing are available to vaccinate younger children. Clinic appointments for younger children take more time to ensure safety; appointments are currently limited and making an appointment in advance is recommended.
• Booster Doses – Everyone 5 years of age and older is eligible. If it has been more than 5 months since you completed your primary COVID-19 vaccination series (Pfizer or Moderna) OR at least 2 months since you received your J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination, consider making a booster appointment soon.
• Second (2^nd) Booster Doses – Any individual aged 50+ OR Immunocompromised is eligible and may receive a second booster dose of Pfizer or Moderna if at least 4 months after receiving their first booster dose. If it has been more than 4 months since you received your first booster, consider making a booster appointment soon. Individuals Under age 50: no updated timeline for eligibility has been announced yet.

To review more vaccine eligibility guidance, view the CDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Chart.

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

------------------------------

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.

------------------------------

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.