COVID deaths in county reach 17

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
With the addition of another COVID-19-related death for Weston County last week, the Wyoming Department of Health reports that the county death total is at 17, up from 13 in November. Statewide, COVID-19-related deaths have reached 1,650 since the start of the pandemic two years ago. 
The Department of Health also reports 110 total confirmed cases in the past 14 days in the county, although Weston County Health Services CEO Maureen Cadwell said this is likely inaccurate and that more cases are present in the community. She noted that the discrepancy  is due to the use of in-home testing. 
“The home test kits are not as sensitive to the virus so may not be as accurate. In addition, the home tests are not reported anywhere for our community numbers,” Cadwell said. 
Active cases, as reported by the department, were 23 as of Feb. 8, a decline from the 75 active cases reported on Jan. 27. Hospitalizations in the county have also dropped from two to zero since that time. 
“While Delta (variant) put the hospital in a real bind back in the fall, we are not seeing nearly as many COVID-related hospitalizations this time,” Dr. Sara Thurgood added, noting that the Omicron variant seems to be more contagious but less severe. 
Thurgood did say, though, that vaccination is as important as ever because Omicron appears to be affecting younger children more than previous variants did.
“For adults, three doses of either Pfizer or Moderna will reduce your odds of hospitalization from Omicron and its subvariants by 88%,” she said. 
As of Jan. 31, according to the Department of Health, 36.86%, or 2,553 of Weston County residents, are fully vaccinated. Statewide, 44.54%, or 257,790 people, have been fully vaccinated. 
The health department recommends that anyone over 12 receive a booster in addition to their two original doses, as Thurgood said, the booster helps to reduce the odds of hospitalization. 
“I just hope the severity remains lessened with Omicron, as we seem to be seeing in larger areas,” Thurgood said. “The issue lies less with severe disease and death this time and more with the disruptions caused by having so many people sick all at once. I pray that’s all it comes to.”