County sees first new cases in over a month

WORLAND — After going more than a month without a positive COVID-19 community case (June 1) or a case from the outbreak at the Worland Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center (June 4), Washakie County reported its 35th case on Tuesday, July 7.

Two additional cases were reported early Wednesday morning.

The 35th case is an adult male. According to Washakie County Public Health, prior to becoming symptomatic, the individual had prolonged contact with several individuals in the county. Epidemiologists with the Wyoming Department of Health are aware of this and are working to complete contact investigations and will notify close contacts who are determined to have a risk of exposure.

Additional information on the two Wednesday cases were not available at press time.

Prior to the report, Washakie County had gone about 24 hours without an active COVID-19 case.

On Monday, the Washakie County Public Health reported that there had been 933 tests completed with 893 negative. As of Tuesday there were 35 positive cases, five probable, five deaths (all from the WHRC) and at least six pending tests.

People with COVID-19 have been experiencing a wide-range of symptoms ranging from mild to severe, according to Public Health. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to COVID-19.

Common symptoms are cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. Other less common symptoms have been reported including gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Anyone with symptoms is asked to contact their health care provider and get tested.

Statewide as of Tuesday, Wyoming had 1,378 cases, 333 probable cases and 1,274 recovered active and 10 COVID patients hospitalized throughout the state. On Tuesday the state also had it’s 21st death, a man in Laramie County.

The newly announced death involves an adult man with no apparent health conditions known to put patients at higher risk of serious illness related to COVID-19.

The Wyoming Department of Health recommendations meant to slow and limit transmission of the virus include:

•Staying home from work and away from others when ill unless medical care is needed

•Maintaining physical distancing of 6 feet whenever practical

•Wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where physical distancing is not reasonable.