Local providers address questions on coronavirus

WORLAND – Washakie County Public Health officials held a teleconference question and answer session on YouTube Tuesday morning to address questions in Washakie County, where Washakie County Public Health Officer Ed Zimmerman said he anticipated state orders being extended through the end of May.

Zimmerman noted that the orders for Wyoming are expected to be extended, not officially at this time, through the end of May when answering a question about churches planning to reconvene for services.

“Do not make plans thinking that it is going to end April 30, there is just no chance when it [novel coronavirus] has not peaked yet,” Zimmerman said. A stricter stay-at-home order is highly unlikely specifically for Washakie County at this time with Zimmerman.

At this current time Washakie County has completed 47 tests with 35 returning negative, five positive, eight pending results, and three probable cases according to the Washakie County COVID-19 daily situation report.

According to the nurse practitioners in attendance, Jeremiah Cannon and Keristyn Carrell, both of Red Rock; and Sarah-Anne Galloway of Wild Rose Wellness, each clinic in town is capable of testing for the novel coronavirus, with a success rate of the current test being 95%. There were reports that the test has a less than 60% success rate. The initial test did have a low success rate, but the most recently developed test has a very small false negative rate.

Tests at this time are still prioritized for hospitalized or pregnant infected patients at the Wyoming Public Health Lab, with testing and questioning done with potential coronavirus patients being tested in parking lots in order to reduce the chance of infection spreading. Telehealth is an option at offices in the area for patients who do not wish to do an in-person visit.

The providers said once tests get to the state lab they have results within 24 hours; it is three to five days for results with tests sent to private labs.

Regarding wearing gloves and masks, the local doctors urged residents to be cautious when wearing gloves and to make sure they are only wearing them in the correct scenarios. Washing your hands regardless of if you are wearing your gloves or not is important. Wearing gloves does not mean that you should touch everything under the sun.

The panel acknowledged that masks are hard for residents to find in the area, but should be able to search and find some homemade ones on social media. Doctors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending wearing masks in public in order to protect other citizens since asymptomatic patients have as much of a chance of transmitting the disease as symptomatic patients.

With social distancing becoming a priority over the last month, doctors noted that people are getting better, but still believe that people are visiting the stores too often, and advise that you only visit the store when it is necessary, even if you are keeping your distance in the store.

Exercise with family is an OK activity as long as social distancing is primarily maintained. Playing in the park is discouraged. The City of Worland has closed playgrounds, picnic areas and restrooms in city parks. The restrooms at Pioneer Square remain open.

Zimmerman said the virus can live on metal for up to 72 hours.

Hospitals in the area currently have adequate supplies; however, if there is a larger influx of patients the hospitals may face reduced supplies quickly as they are difficult to acquire throughout the country.

The panel of doctors would highly recommend family gatherings do not occur with older generations, as risk of death is higher at ages 60. Zimmerman said there is a current chance of one in five people over the age of dying.

The local doctors said they know it is hard to stay apart as a family but it is better to social distance now to end the quarantine sooner.

Paper and cardboard have a lower time the infection can live on them, so exercising caution with mail and allowing it to quarantine for possibly 24 hours would allow for a smaller chance of infection spreading through mail.

The livestream was unfortunately cut short after about 22 minutes due to technical difficulties, and another session is planned for April 28 at 10 a.m.