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Sun Valley is a popular resort town located in Blaine County, Idaho, USA. The average annual income for residents is approximately $63,500, and the average home price is over $775,000.
Pioneer Saloon Restaurant
The city has hosted the annual Allen & Company conference since 1983, attracting a host of billionaires and renowned media moguls. Business Insider calls this event the billionaires' summer camp. Many billionaires often arrive by private jet and stay at the upscale Sun Valley Lodge hotel, with prices ranging from $495 to $1,600 per night.
Wealthy visitors flock to Sun Valley year-round, including movie stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood. For nearly 100 years, it has been considered one of America's top skiing destinations.
Sun Valley Lodge Hotel
In recent months, many wealthy individuals from bustling cities have flocked to Sun Valley to escape the risk of coronavirus infection. This migration has severely impacted the lives of local residents. Sun Valley even has a higher Covid-19 infection rate than nearby large, densely populated cities.
As of April 13th, Blaine County had over 450 cases of coronavirus infection and 5 deaths among its 22,000 residents. In early April 2020, the per capita Covid-19 infection rate there was higher than that of New York City. Many local residents believe the outbreak may have originated from the annual meeting of the National Skiing Brotherhood (NBS), a US sports organization. Nearly 700 people attended the NBS event in Sun Valley from March 1st to 7th. Hundreds of them tested positive for Covid-19.
The city was forced to close its resort on March 15th. However, the pandemic quickly spread throughout Idaho. To date, the state has reported more than 50 healthcare workers infected with Covid-19.
City officials have asked residents from other cities to temporarily avoid coming to Sun Valley to limit the spread of the virus and have urged people not to hoard essential supplies in stores and supermarkets.
