COVID update: Honor camp announces 80 cases

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
A total of 80 people — 73 inmates and seven staff — have tested positive for COVID-19 at Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp north of Newcastle, according to an Oct. 30 press release from the Wyoming Department of Corrections. Weston County’s public health nurse, Lori Bickford, reported that the 80 cases will eventually be reflected in Weston County’s total case count. As of Monday, the county has recorded 129 lab-confirmed cases and another 40 probable cases total since the pandemic began, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.
The Department of Corrections  tested 100% of the population after a “few” positive cases were discovered during the routine 20% testing the facility had been conducting weekly. Tests are paid for through funding provided to the department under the CARES Act. 
“We will continue to monitor and test as necessary to maximize safety of staff and inmates,” said C.J. Young, DOC compliance manager. “Housing units have been identified as quarantine housing to maximize separation of inmates.” 
At this time, the facility has an inmate population of 223 and 79 staff members. Young said that staffing remains appropriate at the camp despite the positive cases. Traditional means such as overtime and alternative schedules are being used to ensure shift coverage. 
“Since April 2020, the wearing of face masks and monitoring of social distancing has been and continues to be required of all staff and inmates,” the release says. “The WDOC is working closely with the Department of Health and State Epidemiologist. The department will continue diligent monitoring at all sites and will report accordingly.” 
The state continues to see increases of COVID-19 in every county and currently has the sixth-highest new-ccase rate in the nation, according to Bickford. Statewide, according to the Department of Health, there are 12,399 total lab-confirmed cases, with 7,948 of those recovered; 2,220 probable cases, with 1,364 recovered; and 93 deaths related to the illness.
In the past 14 days, Bickford said, the number of positive test results amounts to 7.7% of the tests given in that period. Overall, Weston County has a 2.5% positivity rate out of the 1,957 total tests performed on county residents.
“The positivity rate and new cases have put us in a category known as a red zone, which is the most concerning. The threshold of control should be less than or equal to 5%,” Bickford said. “The rate of new cases and rate of positivity need to be headed in the opposite direction to protect the community. We have the power to turn this trend of transmission around if we embrace the public health precautions.” 
Those precautions, she said, include maintaining a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others,  frequent hand washing and wearing a mask when social distancing is not possible.