Mammoth Lakes’ Town Council declared a local health emergency at its Wednesday meeting, allowing the City Manager the power to take quick action in the face of the coronavirus.

In addition to the list of restrictions approved Tuesday by the Mono County Board of Directors, the town had directed all hotels, motels and short-term rentals to close. However, according to a daily briefing received late Thursday, the hotel closure is “on hold for further refinement.”

At this point, Dan Holler, Mammoth’s city manager, told the Board “we’re working to support our workforce.”

Information on Eastern Sierra governing bodies’ measures on dealing with virus is coming in at a staggering rate. At this point, the best sources on actions taken or recommended are the Mammoth Lakes or Mono County websites.

The most recent communication from Mammoth Hospital cites a shortage of test kits and recommends those who are not seriously ill to stay at home under self-quarantine. The press release states access to hospital and clinic buildings will be limited to patients and one adult care support person. The hospital plans to have “greeters at all entrances” who will determine if you can “enter the facility or be assessed by Emergency Department personnel.”

With Mammoth and June mountains closed to skiers, JetSuite cancellation of flights, and the impending restrictions on businesses, the Town will focus on taking care of local residents. As one resident commented, Mammoth has been concentrating on how to bring more people to town; now it has to keep people from coming.

United will stop flights from Denver and San Francisco, but will continue from Los Angeles for now. Mammoth Lakes Tourism “is working to get it shut down sooner.”

In response to a discussion on housing for Mammoth Mountain employees previously in company housing, Holler very accurately described all the issues involved with coronavirus: “it’s a sticky moving target.” The sticky moving target connected to the discussion focused on the possibility of evictions of locals who have lost their jobs due to the massive shutdowns and whether the Town could, basically, outlaw such evictions.

One suggestion was only allowing lodging for primary residents or essential visitors.

Holler ended the discussion with one ray of hope: “I hope we have access to federal monies.”

One last website: The Small Business Administration is the resource for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Go to SBA.gov/coronavirus.