Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Public Health to hire contact tracers
WORLAND – Washakie County did not have an active case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, July 29, but saw a sharp increase starting the following day that has led to nine active cases in the county as of press time on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Washakie County Public Health (WCPH) released a statement on Facebook stating that several of the cases have been linked to adults between the ages of 20 to 40 attending social events, bars and reunions. The other cases are believed to be community spread which means they were acquired in the community with no recent travel, but cannot be linked to a specific event of person.
Four of the nine cases are linked to a dayhab facility in Worland where two staff members and two clients tested positive.
WCPH said that on top of the nine lab-confirmed cases,
several others are being tested at this time. The Wyoming Department of Health showed no hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients at Washakie Medical Center as of Tuesday.
Washakie County Public Health Nurse Manager Amanda Heinemeyer came before the county commissioners on Tuesday with Washakie County Emergency Management/Homeland Security Director Kami Neighbors to discuss the need to hire part-time employees to help with contact tracing COVID-19 positive patients.
Heinemeyer told the commissioners that she has received around $56,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) funding in order to hire part-time contact tracers to help contact those in connection with positive cases at a faster rate. Heinemeyer said Washakie County is one of the few counties in the state that does not have a contact tracing specific team.
Heinemeyer said to be on the contact tracing team, they would be looking primarily for a nurse to hold the position. If they are unable to find one for the position then a degree in public health would be the next preferred experience. She said the job would be paid part-time based on hours worked, with no benefits.
The commissioners agreed with Heinemeyer and Neighbors that it was important to pursue contact tracers, especially with school opening up in less than two weeks.