May6, 2020 Moonshine Minutes
Transcript
Good morning, and welcome to Moonshine Minutes. I’m Becca Loux, reporter/editor for the Ink.
Who doesn’t need a little laughter these days? Here’s a bit of humor in the time of coronavirus, courtesy the brilliant hivemind of the internet.
A few physical distancing pickup lines in case you want to strike up a conversation with the cutie in the mask from six feet away:
- If COVID-19 doesn’t take you out … Can I?
- You can’t spell virus without U and I.
- Baby, do you need toilet paper? Because I can be your Prince Charmin.
- Since all the public libraries are closed, I’m checking YOU out instead.
- I saw you from across the bar. Stay there.
Meanwhile, for yourself, every few days make sure to try your jeans on. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
My body has absorbed so much soap and disinfectant lately that when I pee it cleans the toilet.
This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her cat. It was obvious she thought her cat understood her. I came to my house, told my dog…we laughed a lot.
2020 is a unique Leap Year. It has 29 days in February, 300 days in March, and 5 years in April.
On a more serious, yet hopeful, note, there are probably enough COVID-19 testing kits in the region now, should you need it.
As of May 4, the Truckee/North Shore community has a new option for COVID-19 testing at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. Placer and Nevada counties coordinated the facility after California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on April 22 that an additional 80 disease testing sites would be implemented across the state.
The new location can perform up to 132 tests per day, and is a second option for the region to Tahoe Forest Health System’s drive-thru testing clinic — both available by appointment only. Yet the criteria for testing at the new site will make it easier to qualify for a test.
Those with mild symptoms are now encouraged to be tested, as well as asymptomatic people. This extended eligibility for COVID-19 is in part thanks to the California Department of Public Health.
OptumServe (the federal government health services side of Optum, a leading health services innovation company), which manages the Kings Beach site, will test anyone who experiences symptoms of the disease, including uninsured, underinsured, undocumented, and homeless indviduals. Those with medical insurance will have their company billed; those without insurance may still utilize the testing site, and their tests will be covered by the state.
There technically is still a testing hierarchy, though, should supply diminish:
- Priority 1 includes the original top tier: hospitalized patients and healthcare workers showing symptoms, as well as persons in high risk settings like nursing homes and correctional facilities.
- Priority 2 allows screening of such asymptomatic people as residents in congregate living facilities and healthcare workers; symptomatic persons in first responder, law enforcement, and congregate living facilities; and those over 65 years old or with underlying medical conditions.
- Priority 3 suggests testing for symptomatic people working in essential positions like utility workers, food supply workers, and other public employees.
- Priority 4 would include all low-risk symptomatic people and surveillance testing of asymptomatic persons.
The governor’s allotment for new testing sites also created a Grass Valley testing location for Eastern Nevada County residents (also through OptumServe) and a Northwest Reno drive-thru facility at the St. Mary’s Urgent Clinic (6255 Sharlands Ave.), which can provide up to 200 tests per day.
For the latest on regional coronavirus news, , keep an eye on Moonshine’s coverage on moonshineink.com. Our team is reporting online almost daily. Soon, we will release a play-by-play chart of case numbers broken down by each county in our area — Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, and Washoe.
Remember, it takes a village to keep Tahoe safe and strong. Do your part, take care of yourself,and stay healthy.
