Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Quick Summary:

Mono County Public Health recommends being up to date with vaccines, staying at home if you are sick, testing if you have symptoms, and to consider wearing a mask. If you do get sick with COVID-19 talk to your health care provider about treatment.

It's hard to predict the seasonal trends of COVID-19. You can find information about the current trends via local wastewater testing by visiting our Wastewater Epidemiology webpage.

Prevention

To Reduce the Spread of COVID-19:

Stay home if sick (when possible);
If you must leave home while sick, wear a mask in public;
Get tested if you have symptoms;
Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines; and,
Report Your Positive Test. Mono County is continuing to track positive COVID-19 cases reported from healthcare providers and laboratories as well as self-administered home antigen tests.

COVID-19 Vaccines

Update 10/23/2024:

Adults 65 years and older are now recommended to receive two doses of updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine separated by 6 months (minimum interval 2 months).

Individuals 6 months and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are also recommended to receive two doses of updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine separated by 6 months (minimum interval 2 months) and may receive additional doses in discussion with their healthcare provider.

For more info on COVID-19 vaccines, please CDPH's guide to COVID-19 Vaccines.

COVID-19 & Pregnancy

Getting an updated COVID-19 booster when you are pregnant is a healthy choice, encouraged by Mono County Public Health. COVID-19 immunizations are safe in pregnancy and improve the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Babies depend upon antibodies from their mother for disease protection when they enter the world. COVID-19 can be hard on young babies--infants less than six months with COVID-19 get hospitalized about as often as old people with the infection. A mother who gets a COVID-19 booster will give her baby more antibodies, providing months of protection during a time when children are most vulnerable.

COVID-19 immunizations also benefit pregnant mothers. Although most people now have important partial immune protection against COVID-19, being pregnant still increases the chance of COVID-19 complications. Choosing a COVID-19 immunization (updated booster) during pregnancy reduces the chance of COVID-19 complications, improving the odds of a healthy pregnancy and baby.

The protection against infections provided to your baby by your antibodies wears off by about six months old, when your baby will be able to receive COVID-19 immunization.

As of June 2025, nearly all insurance companies cover COVID-19 immunizations.

For High Risk Individuals

This includes individuals with compromised immune systems and/or certain chronic medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes. Check with your provider to assess your risk status. You can also view CDPH information on chronic conditions and COVID-19.

Additional precautions for individuals at high risk for severe illness include:

Stay six feet away from others;
Avoid poorly ventilated spaces and crowds;
Wash your hands often;
Cover coughs and sneezes;
Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces; and,
Follow recommendations for quarantine and isolation.

Care and Treatment of COVID-19

When to test:

If you begin having COVID-⁠19 symptoms, including fever, sore throat, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell, or;
At least 5 days after you come into close contact with someone with COVID-⁠19, or;
When you’re going to gather with a group of people, especially those who are at risk of severe disease or may not be up to date on their COVID-⁠19 vaccines.

Free Virtual COVID-19 Test-to-Treat Services

If You Do Get Sick and/or Test Positive for COVID-19

Early treatment generally prevents progression to severe COVID-19, so do not delay testing. Everyone 12 years and older who tests positive for COVID-19 and has symptoms should consult with their primary care physician regarding treatment options.

If you've tested positive for COVID-19 and are unable to connect with a medical provider within 24 hours, please call (833) 686-5051 or visit SESAME to schedule a free virtual COVID-19 medical appointment.

CURRENT GUIDELINES

Stay home if you have COVID-19 symptoms, until you have not had a fever for 24 hours without using fever reducing medication, AND other COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving. If you do not have symptoms, you should follow the recommendations below to reduce exposure to others, but you do not need to isolate.
Mask when you are around other people indoors for the 10 days after you become sick or test positive (if no symptoms) for COVID-19. You may remove your mask sooner than 10 days if you have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart. Day 0 is symptom onset date or positive test date.
Avoid contact with people at higher-risk for severe COVID-19 for 10 days. Higher-risk individuals include the elderly, those who live in congregate care facilities, and those who have immunocompromising conditions that put them at higher risk for serious illness.
Seek treatment. If you have symptoms, particularly if you are at higher risk for severe COVID-19, speak with a healthcare provider as soon as you test positive as you may be eligible for antiviral medicines or other treatments. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5-7 days from when symptoms start.

FREE COVID-19 TESTS

Free COVID-19 home tests are available for pick-up at Mono County Health Department offices in Bridgeport and Mammoth Lakes.

✔️ Monday - Friday: Mono County Civic Center (1290 Tavern Road; Mammoth Lakes); 8am - 5pm (excluding holidays)

✔️ Thursdays: Bridgeport Public Health Office (37 Emigrant Street; Bridgeport); 10am - 2pm (excluding holidays)

COVID-19 in the Workplace

In the workplace, employers are subject to the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations,  or in some workplaces the Cal/OSHA Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD) Standard and should consult those regulations for additional applicable requirements.  In certain healthcare situations or settings and other covered facilities, services and operations, surgical masks or respirators are required.

Note that this guidance relies upon people being willing to test for COVID-19 and to wear masks if they are positive in order to protect others. Masks vary in their effectiveness, and all masks must be worn properly and consistently in order to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19. See CDPH "When and Why to Wear a Mask" for more information.

Mono County businesses interested in obtaining free COVID-19 tests for their employees are encouraged to contact the Mono County Health Department at (760) 924-1830.