Is South Lake Tahoe prepared for the coronavirus?

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many have asked, what if our community starts getting COVID-19 cases, are we prepared? Many different groups, agencies, and the government have been working diligently and collaboratively on emergency plans to prepare.

Officials have said to act as if there are people in the area with COVID-19, because there most likely are and tests have yet to confirm. To stem the tide of the virus among our population, stay at home and one goes out, follow the safety protocols. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds, practice social distancing and keep at least six feet apart, clean and disinfect surfaces often, avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth, cover sneeze or cough with a tissue (then throw away).

Barton Health

Being the primary caregiver in South Lake Tahoe, Barton Health has been updating the community almost daily on their operational procedures, coronavirus testing, dedicated helplines, and information for the public to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Barton’s 24/7 COVID-19 Health Line, 530.600.1999, has screened hundreds of individuals who are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness, including fever, cough, or shortness of breath. If callers meet appropriate criteria they are referred to Barton’s referral-only Respiratory Screening Center or Drive-up Clinic. Coronavirus testing by Barton is only conducted for those registered through the Health Line. Barton’s 24/7 Emergency Department is
providing only emergent medical services at this time, and directs patients with symptoms of respiratory illness to call the Health Line first before arriving.

Barton is licensed for 63 acute beds and 48 long-term care beds in their Skilled Nursing Facility. Barton is screening and testing based on federal and state testing criteria and meeting the demand we have today. Right now Barton has enough of all supplies to meet demand and are working with other health care systems to share resources in the event this is necessary.

This is an evolving situation with new recommendations issued frequently. Health care facilities and hospitals across the country are all working around the clock to prepare for an influx of COVID-19 patients should the number of infections increase.

"This is why government and health care officials have issued pleas not to horde medical supplies. Hospitals are on the front lines of treating this pandemic and need those supplies to care for patients. We are all in this together," said Barton Health in a statement.

Should more COVID-19 patients require beds than what is currently available at Barton, plans are in the works to utilize other facilities.

"Barton Health has plans in place should Barton Memorial Hospital experience a sudden influx of patients," said Barton's Director of Marketing & Public Relations Mindi Befu earlier this week. "As Barton Memorial Hospital reaches capacity, additional patients will then be directed to other Barton medical facilities, including locations in California and Nevada. If Barton Health reaches capacity in these additional facilities, our medical and administrative team is having ongoing discussions with city officials and community members as well as other local medical professionals for additional space, staffing, and other special considerations."

For Barton's latest daily updates, visit https://www.bartonhealth.org/tahoe/coronavirus-update.aspx.

Lake Tahoe Community College has been asked by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office to be on alert about the possibility of being an emergency location for those with the coronavirus.

"We haven’t been approached yet, but the Chancellor's office has asked us to stand by," said LTCC Superintendent/President Jeff DeFranco. "We have been doing work to prepare the physical education building by deep cleaning and sanitizing it."

DeFranco said they have started to look at the building and see what a layout would look like should space be needed. No real planning other than being on "stand by and ready."

"Hopefully it's not needed," said DeFranco.

City of South Lake Tahoe

The City of South Lake Tahoe has been working with all partners, including Barton Health, to make sure the resources necessary are available to the public should the pandemic hit the community.

"It is a high priority to the City Council that we are doing that in an efficient and effective matter," said the City's Communication Manager Chris Fiore.

Fiore said their employees are working from home except for essential services.

"The City is making sure essential services don't stop - police, fire, public works. They will all keep going during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the City of South Lake Tahoe is here to help in any way we can," said Fiore.

The City asked people to not travel to South Lake Tahoe during this time and to abide by the Governor's order that people don't do any non-essential travel. During their emergency meeting on Wednesday, the Council voted to have tourist stays in a local motel or vacation home a finable offense.

"We are doing everything we can to make sure people living here can weather this crisis," added Fiore.

The City also has also been updating citizens through their alert system (HERE).

El Dorado County

The County issued a "Shelter in Place" directive. Starting March 20, 2020, all County residents need to remain at home except to engage in “essential activities,”

The County has the Public Health Department for the area and they have dedicated webpages for COVID-19 - https://www.edcgov.us/Government/hhsa/Pages/EDCCOVID-19.aspx. Here there are links to recent news, healthcare information, guidelines about the coronavirus and how to avoid it, travel restrictions, schools, questions and answers, as well as current COVID-19 cases.

There are currently three confirmed cases of residents in El Dorado County. One of those was out of the area when exposed and has recovered but not returned, another traveled to Washington and self quarantined upon return, and a third was community transmitted.

El Dorado County’s Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams, issued a
directive on March 24 that clarifies Governor Newsom’s March 18th “Stay At Home” Order as it relates to short-term lodging, defined as a period of fewer than 30 days at facilities including hotels, motels, condominiums, campgrounds, other units.

“Despite the Governor’s Order to stay home except when necessary and our continued plea to recreate at home, many residents have flocked to Lake Tahoe and other tourist destinations for nothing more than a change of scenery, allowing for a possible increase in the spread of COVID-19,” Williams said. “This Directive sends a very strong statement: people should get their exercise and change of pace from their own backyards and neighborhoods rather than travel to a different destination and risk carrying the virus to other locales, potentially putting additional strain on a healthcare system that is already limited in its ability to care for its own community.”