Rancho Mirage City Hall closed following council member's positive COVID-19 test

Rancho Mirage City Hall was closed Monday after a councilmember tested positive for COVID-19.

“Out of an abundance of caution, City Hall will be closed until further notice for deep cleaning,” city officials said in an email sent out Monday afternoon.

Those who attended Thursday’s City Council meeting in person might want to consider getting tested, officials said.

City Manager Isaiah Hagerman told The Desert Sun he received a call from a council member at about 9 a.m. Monday telling him he had tested positive.

City Hall was immediately closed and will likely remain closed the rest of the week for deep cleaning and for the Thanksgiving holiday, Hagerman said.

All of City Hall will be sanitized, he said.

To his knowledge, Hagerman said no one else had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Monday morning.

“Honestly, it’s probably too early to tell,” Hagerman said. “Everyone’s been alerted on the council and I’ve notified staff."

Council members are all fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as are the staff who were also seated at the dais on Thursday, Hagerman said.

Councilmember Richard Kite was the only one on the dais wearing a mask throughout Thursday’s meeting. Council members then also met in closed session in a small room at City Hall.

Council members were all immediately notified, along with staff, Hagerman said.

While City Hall has been open since July 2020, it has been half-staffed. Employees rotate working remotely or on site, Hagerman said.

Just a few people attended Thursday’s meeting in person, and those that did were never within 6 feet of councilmembers for a long period, he said.

For information about testing sites and appointments, or to arrange for a vaccination, visit the Riverside County public health department’s website at rivcoph.org/coronavirus or gettested.ruhealth.org/home.

Desert Sun reporter Sherry Barkas covers the cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can be reached at sherry.barkas@thedesertsun.com. Follow her on Twitter @TDSsherryBarkas

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Rancho Mirage City Hall closed following positive COVID-19 test