Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Tests Reveal Coronavirus in Yosemite National Park's Sewage
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
July 20, 2020

Share

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — With no confirmed case of the coronavirus, Yosemite National Park appeared to be a safe haven from the pandemic.
But tests of the park’s raw sewage have confirmed the presence of the virus, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday, and dozens of people are believed to have been infected.
No park employee or resident has tested positive at the park’s health clinic, and no visitors have reported being sick since Yosemite began a phased reopening on June 11 after being closed for nearly three months.
Working with the National Park Service, Mariposa County health officials began taking samples of untreated wastewater and sent it to a lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for analysis. The lab, Biobot Analytics, told the county this week that based on how much of the virus they counted, it’s possible about 170 people were infected in Yosemite Valley.
Eric Sergienko, the county’s health officer who is overseeing coronavirus testing in the Yosemite area, attributed the emergence of the coronavirus in Yosemite to the region’s many visitors. He said its presence will not likely lead to policy changes because the park is already following local and state restrictions.

For Most People, the New Coronavirus Causes Mild or Moderate Symptoms

Yosemite, which typically attracts more than 4 million visitors each year, is cutting the number of vehicle passes to the park by half. Visitor centers remain closed, while campgrounds, gift shops and hotels are limiting services to allow for physical distancing. After Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered statewide restrictions on Monday to halt indoor dining due to a spike in COVID-19 cases across California, additional park facilities, such as restaurants, scaled back operations.
Sergienko said he believes the confirmed presence of the virus in Yosemite will make people more vigilant.
“We know the problem is here. We know the challenge is here. Now we have to be serious about facing it,” he said.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

In Other News About the Outbreak in California

1. California reported on Saturday its fourth-highest daily total of newly confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 9,000. The state also reported an additional 120 deaths.
2. The number of coronavirus cases at a San Francisco Bay Area jail more than doubled in 24 hours, jumping from 40 to 101 cases. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said Friday the outbreak swept through two housing units at Santa Rita Jail and that the majority of cases were asymptomatic.
3. The Navy said Friday at least two sailors have tested positive after fighting a massive fire aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard at Naval Base San Diego. At least 27 people who were in contact with them are in quarantine. The fire broke out on July 12 and heavily damaged the ship.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

Protester Killed at Utah ‘No Kings’ Rally Was Fashion Designer From ‘Project Runway’

Possum the Wanderer Finds Her Groove After Tumor Surgery

31 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Norman James Walker

41 minutes ago

Fresno Police Make DUI Arrest, Cite 135 Drivers in Distracted Driving Crackdown

A distracted driving enforcement operation in Fresno led to 135 drivers being cited for violating California’s hands-free cell phone law on ...

4 minutes ago

4 minutes ago

Fresno Police Make DUI Arrest, Cite 135 Drivers in Distracted Driving Crackdown

National flags of Russia and the U.S. fly at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia April 11, 2017. (Reuters File)
19 minutes ago

Russia Says US Has Cancelled Next Round of Talks on Easing Tensions

20 minutes ago

Protester Killed at Utah ‘No Kings’ Rally Was Fashion Designer From ‘Project Runway’

Possum, a quirky senior pup who beat the odds after surgery and dental work, is now thriving in foster care and ready to find a loving home. (Mell's Mutts)
31 minutes ago

Possum the Wanderer Finds Her Groove After Tumor Surgery

Norman James Walker is Valley Crime Stoppers' Most Wanted Person of the Day for June 16, 2025. (Valley Crimes Stoppers)
41 minutes ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Norman James Walker

44 minutes ago

JJ Spaun Turns a Free Fall into US Open Title at Rainy Oakmont

A vehicle fire early Monday, June 16, 2025, in Fresno spread to a home’s garage but was quickly contained by firefighters, with no injuries reported. (Fresno FD)
46 minutes ago

Fresno Vehicle Fire Spreads to Garage, No Injuries Reported

A person walks in front of closed shops in the Tehran Bazaar following the Israeli strikes on Iran, in the center of Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
51 minutes ago

Iranians Flee Capital for Safety as Israeli Airstrikes Intensify

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend