Coronavirus In Wyoming: Resources & News

  • Alissa Eckert, MS, Dan Higgins, MAMS

Wyoming Public Media is here to keep you current on the news surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. 

Updated 4/16/21 3:30 p.m.

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) reported 64 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on Friday. There are currently 461 active cases, while the state's total COVID-19 case count is over 57,000. According to the latest self-reported hospital data, 24 people are hospitalized with the coronavirus in the state. The state's death toll is 703.

So far, WDH has received 213,460 first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines and 168,595 of the second dose. WDH has reported administering 76 percent of the first dose of vaccines and 73 percent of the second dose. Additionally, WDH has received 25,100 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine and administered 39 percent of those. More than 133,000 people in the state have been fully vaccinated.

Here are the numbers of lab-confirmed total cases broken down by county from highest to lowest: Laramie 7,413; Natrona 5,885; Fremont 4,306; Campbell 4,289; Sweetwater 3,959; Albany 3,678; Teton 3,611; Park 2,512; Sheridan 2,457; Uinta 1,834; Carbon 1,399; Lincoln 1,176; Goshen 1,089; Big Horn 908; Washakie 704; Sublette 607; Weston 545; Converse 514; Johnson 425; Platte 404; Crook 395; Hot Springs 270; and Niobrara 67.

Since March of last year, 56,103 people have recovered from the virus.

(Commercial labs are required to report positive test results to WDH; negative results are not reported consistently.)

Wyoming's Vaccine Plan

Wyoming has chosen to give each county the ability to control it's COVID-19 vaccine roll out. The federal government has allotted a certain amount of vaccine doses to Wyoming. The Wyoming Department of Health has taken that number and rationed it out to each county by population. The department of health has taken the general federal roll out guidelines and amended them to the state as needed. This has resulted with three priority groups.

Each local county health department is in charge of the vaccine roll out for their communities. This means counties are moving at different speeds down the priority groups. To find more information about where your county is at with the vaccine roll out, go to your counties public health department's website.

​State Orders -- Updated March 16th, 2021

Starting March 16th, the statewide mask mandate (Public Health Order #4) and all restrictions on restaurants, bars, theatres and gyms (Public Health Order #1) were lifted. The face covering protocol for K-12 schools will however remain in place.

Limitations on personal gatherings and restrictions on outdoor events (Public Health Order #2) have been removed. However, for large indoor events for more than 500 people, may only be held at 50 percent of venue capacity with certain face mask protocols.

Wyoming Public Media would like to thank and recognize all health care workers, doctors, nurses caregivers, grocery store workers, truck drivers, and delivery workers during the global pandemic.​

News & Updates:

Resources:

We also want to hear from you on how your community is responding. Tell us what you're seeing, hearing and experiencing on social media, use the hashtag #COVID19WY.

Ways to Connect

States Muddle The CDC's Message On Masks

By • Mar 8, 2021

Last week, Texas joined Montana and a handful of other states in lifting its statewide mask mandate, a move that runs counter to warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gov. Gordon Removes Mask Orders, Lifts Restaurant And Bar Restrictions

By • Mar 8, 2021
Ivan Radic via CC BY 2.0

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon will remove the statewide mask requirement starting on March 16. In a press release sent out Monday morning, Gordon also announced he would lift all restrictions on bars, restaurants, theaters, and gyms, allowing them to resume normal operations on that same date.

Should the legislature be allowed to regulate statewide public health orders?

By • Mar 8, 2021
Wyoming State Legislature

Should the legislature be allowed to regulate statewide public health orders? 

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Senate Committee Approves Bill Providing Oversight To Health Orders

By • Mar 4, 2021
Pixabay, Public Domain

The Wyoming Senate's Health and Labor committee voted 3-2 to limit the power of the governor and public health officials regarding a public health order.

A Good Shot: Scientist Stresses J&J Vaccine's Efficacy In Preventing Severe COVID-19

By editor • Mar 3, 2021

Health officials hope the newly approved Johnson and Johnson vaccine will accelerate progress in vaccinating rural and homebound residents in the Mountain West. But there’s some unnecessary confusion over the shot’s efficacy.

Colorado Coder Creates Website That Tracks Vaccine Appointment Openings At Pharmacies

By • Mar 3, 2021

Vaccine appointment frustration is pretty common these days. And because of challenges with hospital systems, a lot of people are turning to pharmacies to get their COVID-19 vaccine. However, it's still a pain to track down information on every pharmacy's website.


Gov. Gordon Says State Of The State Is Strong Despite Challenges

By • Mar 3, 2021
Wyoming PBS/Screenshot

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said the state of the state is good, despite a difficult financial year thanks to COVID-19. During his annual address, Gordon said the damage of the virus will last a long time.

Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Brings Flexibility To Chaotic Rollout

By • Mar 2, 2021

Over the weekend, the FDA approved a third COVID-19 vaccine. The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe disease, promises to boost inoculation rates in Mountain West states, including rural areas. 

COVID-19 Business Protection Bill Moves Forward

By • Mar 1, 2021
Bob Beck

The Wyoming Senate is debating a bill that's intended to protect businesses from liability if someone is exposed to COVID-19 in their establishment.

Gov. Gordon Wants Legislators To Take A Broader Look At Education

By • Feb 26, 2021
State of Wyoming


Wyoming's legislature meets next week and among the topics will be education spending and budget cuts. Gov. Mark Gordon joined Bob Beck to talk about a number of things including some of the budget challenges the state is facing.

Wyoming's Mask Order Stays While Other Orders Are Relaxed And Removed

By • Feb 25, 2021
Wyoming Department of Health

Gov. Mark Gordon announced he has relaxed several public health orders, as well as the complete removal of one. The changes will go into effect on March 1.

Going The Distance For Vaccines In The Mountain West

By editor • Feb 25, 2021

Diane Huntress, 74, lives in Denver and says trying to get a COVID shot for her and her husband David is like applying for a job.

“I can't talk to anyone," she said. "There's no phone number and all the emails we get say, ‘Do not reply.’ And the problem is, where can I go, can I get there, and when are they going to have it?”

She says vaccines take up all the oxygen among her social circle, too: "I can't see anybody, an acquaintance on Zoom without the question, ‘Have you gotten the vaccine yet?’”

People Of Color Far Less Likely To Have Received COVID-19 Vaccine, CDC Data Shows

By • Feb 25, 2021

Latino and Black people are generally more vulnerable to COVID-19, yet they remain far less likely to have received a vaccine, according to the latest demographic data from the CDC.

Fresh Indoor Air? A CU Boulder Aerosol Expert Suggests Measuring CO2

By • Feb 23, 2021
Zigmar Stein / Adobe Stock

The Centers for Disease Control has said proper ventilation in indoor settings can cut down the spread of COVID-19. But how can you tell whether a space is in fact well ventilated?

Watch: President Biden Delivers Emotional Remembrance Of 500,000 COVID-19 Victims

By • Feb 22, 2021

Updated at 6:45 p.m. ET

President Biden and Vice President Harris acknowledged a grim milestone Monday: the deaths of more than 500,000 Americans from COVID-19.

Biden and Harris, along with first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, emerged from the White House at sundown. They stood at the foot of the South Portico, covered in 500 candles honoring the dead, and listened to a Marine Corps band play "Amazing Grace" as they held a moment of silence.

Across The Mountain West, COVID-19 Exposes Long-Standing Food Insecurity

By editor • Feb 22, 2021

The pandemic's economic toll has left many in the Mountain West struggling to feed their families. In fact, Nevada and New Mexico have some of the highest rates of child food insecurity in the country, according to a report published last fall by the nonprofit Feeding America.

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