Thousand Palms country club residents concerned about other members “lax approach” to coronavirus

UPDATE: After our story aired at 6PM Monday night, Jack Ivey Ranch Country Club HOA President Kelly Mahue contacted News Channel 3 saying she took immediate action to close all amenities at the country club after orders were issued by Governor Gavin Newsom.

INITIAL REPORT:

Rachel Krahan and her husband Kraus are still moving in to their new place at Jack Ivey Ranch Country Club in Thousand Palms.

Monday, and over the past several days the couple says they’ve noticed most residents at the senior community are not following county coronavirus mandates.

“I am worried, I’m sickened, I’m angry,” said Rachel Krahan.

On her phone, Krahan showed us photos she claims show neighbors out walking and not wearing face coverings, and club members not maintaining “social distancing” while interacting with others including landscapers.

The couple also says they saw a service provider sneeze and spit while at a neighbor’s home last Friday morning just before ten o’clock.

While at the club, we too saw residents out without face coverings.  

“When you are out next to somebody without a face covering out in the public they may look OK, but you don’t have to be showing symptoms  to be a carrier necessarily,” said Krahan. 

The couple also complains about a message from the club’s HOA president airing on the country club’s channel, which reads in part, “If you are tested for the Covid-19 virus and test positive, please let Kelly Maheu know”.

The Krahans and Palm Desert attorney Rob Gilliland say requiring that information is a “violation of doctor patient privilege”

“Nobody ever has the right to ask that let alone post it,” said Krahan.  

One thing the Krahan’s want is for club management to post signage throughout the club reminding residents of the importance of following county mandates. 

We checked with Riverside County Public Information Officer Brooke Federico, who says people who live in private, gated communities are in fact required to follow the county’s coronavirus mandates.

“People have a sense like they are going to gamble with their life.  There are so many millions of people I won’t get it,” said Krahan. 

We also spoke with HOA President Kelly Maheu who did not want to speak on camera.

She said she is “not requiring residents to inform her if they test positive”, and said  she thought it would simply be a “good idea so that other residents in the club could be notified”.

She also said “all amenities at the club are now closed”, and said she is confident that the club will “quickly fall in line” with county orders.