With Covid steadily increasing in Palm Springs, one business shuttered its doors again

Key indicators show Covid-19 is on the rise in the valley.

The city of Palm Springs is reporting new wastewater data that shows steadily increasing levels of the virus.

Last weekend, Palm Springs hot spot for live music and fun The Alibi temporarily shuttered its doors due to Covid-related staff shortages and increasing risks.

The Alibi general manager Melanie Tusquellas wrote in a statement to News Channel 3: "“(We) decided to take a break when some of our staff and other people in the valley started to test positive... We thought it was the safest choice for our staff and our customers to not contribute to the post-Coachella spread.”

The venue is a favorite hangout for longtime Palm Springs resident Eleni Austin, who was looking forward to spending time there last weekend. Austin said she supports the business's temporary closure to protect the community.

"Better safe than sorry. We're back teetering to where more and more people are getting sick again," she said. "I'm so happy that they're here that I don't want anything to screw it up."

After a week-long temporary closure, The Alibi will re-open this Friday with live musical performances.

Palm Springs principal civil engineer Donn Uyeno said Covid-19 in the city's wastewater is back on the rise, and has doubled in the last two weeks.

Infected people pass Covid-19 through their waste, giving the city an early indication to cases, even for people who are asymptomatic and untested.

Uyeno said the most recent numbers include data from Coachella Weekend 1, and the increase in visitors to the area could have contributed to the uptick.

"I Iook at the numbers and I choose to wear my mask a little bit more than I did a few weeks ago," he said.

"I would hope that people would kind of just get on board and do what they need to do to make people safe," Austin said. "You have to be extra vigilant."