Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
According to the Washakie County Public Health there have been 15 Washakie County residents tested, four negative results and 11 still pending.
The full release is as follows:
As of March 20, 2020 at 10:45 am there has been no confirmed COVID-19 positives in Washakie County. Washakie County Public Health currently is not notified of each COVID-19 test that is being completed, but will be notified of positive COVID-19 results in Washakie County. Wyoming Department of Health is currently working on notifying each county of the number of tests that have been completed in the Public Health Laboratory. Providers may be using private labs that may or may not be included in this number. In the meantime, Washakie County Public Health has reached out to Washakie County Providers and have obtained an approximate number of tests that have been completed in Washakie County. So far in Washakie County approximately 15 COVID-19 specimens have been sent for testing. Of the 15 that have been sent for testing there have been 4 negatives and 11 are still pending.
There is a shortage of testing swabs nationwide. Washakie County Public Health and providers are all working extensively to obtain testing swabs as they become available. Washakie County currently does have limited testing swabs and as of right now they are following CDC guidelines for testing which are outlined below.
Per CDC
"Clinicians should use their judgement to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. Most patients with confirmed COVID-19 have developed fever and/or symptoms of acute respiratory illness (e.g., cough, difficulty breathing). Priorities for testing may include:
1. Hospitalized patients who have signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 in order to inform decisions related to infection control.
2. Other symptomatic individuals such as, older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions and/or an immunocompromised state that may put them at higher risk for poor outcomes (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, receiving immunosuppressive medications, chronic lung disease, chronic kidney disease).
3. Any persons including healthcare personnel, who within 14 days of symptom onset had close contact with a suspect or laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patient, or who have a history of travel from affected geographic areas within 14 days of their symptom onset.
Clinicians are strongly encouraged to test for other causes of respiratory illness (e.g., influenza)."
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/.../hcp/clinical-criteria.html
While following CDC guidelines and testing for other causes of respiratory illness, multiple providers in Washakie County have reported seeing positive Influenza A & B tests.
If you have additional questions please email [email protected].
Currently Wyoming has 19 positive cases per the Wyoming Department of Health -- nine in Fremont County, four each in Sheridan and Laramie counties and one each in Park and Teton counties.
Information around the state per the Wyoming News Exchange is as follows:
Coronavirus testing: As coronavirus test kits became more available to the state, the number of tests being conducted grew.
According to the Wyoming Department of Health, the state's Public Health Laboratory had tested 334 samples by Friday morning, while commercial labs had reported to the Health Department they had conducted 15 tests.
Health officials in three cities - Cheyenne, Rock Springs and Gillette - announced the establishment of drive-through coronavirus testing facilities, where samples could be collected from people who were referred to the facilities by their health care providers.
Sheridan officials announced they would open several testing centers to handle the demand for testing.
Health officials across the state reminded residents not to go to hospital emergency rooms for testing.
Air service: The Cheyenne Regional Airport announced it would suspend daily commercial flights to Dallas beginning April 7. Airport officials said they would wait to stop the flights to give anyone who wishes to return to Cheyenne time to do so.
The Natrona County International Airport limited access to its terminal to ticketed passengers, people helping others board or depart from a flight, airport employees or rental car customers.
"Those wishing to meet and greet friends and loved ones can do so from the comfort of their vehicle outside the terminal," the airport said.
Similar measures were in place for airport in Rock Springs.
Hand sanitizer: At least two distilleries in Wyoming -- in Cheyenne and Pine Bluffs -- began work to manufacture hand sanitizer, mixing their products with glycerol, hydrogen peroxide and distilled or boiled water to make the sanitizer.
The move by Chronicles Distillery and Pine Bluffs Distilling comes after a change in federal rules that allowed distilleries to begin making hand sanitizer without prior approval.
Inmates released: About 30 non-violent inmates were released from the Fremont County Detention Center to minimize health risks at the jail.
A circuit court judge met with Fremont County's attorney, public defender supervisor and sheriff to determine which inmates would pose a low risk if released.
Courts closed: Wyoming's Supreme Court ordered all district and circuit courts to suspend in-person proceedings except in cases where such proceedings are required by the and the Constitution. Judges were encouraged to reschedule civil trials and use video or telephone conferencing as much as possible.
"We are fortunate that our branch (of government) has invested in video technology and upgraded our hardware in recent years so that we can perform many judicial functions remotely," said Chief Justice Michael Davis.
Cookie deliveries: Troop leaders for the Jackson Service Unit of the Girl Scouts announced Thursday that the deliveries of Girl Scout cookies to Jackson customers would be delayed.
"While we know Girl Scout cookies will bring a little sunshine into everyone's homebound life, we feel the risk is still too high to transmit the COVID-19 virus," Margaret Gordon, a Girl Scout official, write in a community notice. "Some might argue cookies could be considered a necessity, but a responsible Girl Scout knows they are not."
