Jackson Hole: Where the Rich Hide From Coronavirus – The New York Times

Spread across 4,216 square miles of mostly wild country, including Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, Teton County is nearly 3 times the size of Rhode Island. For all that space, only about 23,000 people live there year round. The countys sole hospital, St. Johns Health, has 24 ventilators and a dwindling supply of personal protective equipment.

Pete Muldoon, the mayor of Jackson, the county seat, says that the extreme wealth of some of the valleys part-time residents makes it more difficult for local people to stomach job losses from the lockdown, especially when they are wondering if the communitys health care resources will instead go to someone who might only have a house here to avoid paying taxes. Despite a great temptation to point fingers at the rich, Mr. Muldoon says, he reminds people that tax policies enable a small number of people to hoard all of the wealth.

It is difficult to know how many wealthy people have moved to Teton County to shelter in their mansions. Early on, the county urged outsiders to stay away. In late March, the countys health officer, Dr. Travis Riddell, was explicit, saying, Nonresident homeowners are strongly encouraged to leave or not travel to Teton County.

But a pharmacist reported to local health officials recently that he was processing a lot of prescription transfers from other states for three-month refills. And an employee for a company that provides services for the ultrawealthy (few people were willing to be quoted by name) told me that she estimated there are 30 percent more of those families around than usual at this time of year.

Weve done all we can to provide for them, such as grocery shopping and other services, she told me. Many came for spring break, went home, and then came right back. I know one family of six from Manhattan that has rented a house until August.

She said she feared going to work. I cant believe everyone is flocking here just to be safe, she said. I know you want to get out of New York and California. But I shouldnt be working, and you shouldnt be here either.

One physician told me, I know a doctor in town who was asked to go to someones property once the private ventilator arrived, to make sure it was operational. Disturbed by this hoarding of medical supplies, this person said, the doctor refused.

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Jackson Hole: Where the Rich Hide From Coronavirus - The New York Times